Reauthorization of ESEA (No Child Left Behind Act) Testing Requirements

WHEREAS, the League of United Latin American Citizens is this nation’s oldest and largest Latino organization, founded in Corpus Christi, Texas on February 17, 1929; and

WHEREAS, LULAC throughout its history has committed itself to the principles that Latinos have equal access to opportunities in employment, education, housing and healthcare; and

WHEREAS, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) continues to advance the educational attainment of Hispanics; and

WHEREAS, the Hispanic population continues to grow as the largest minority group in the country; and

WHEREAS, the economic well-being of our society is imperiled by not adequately educating Hispanics; and

WHEREAS, the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), in its ten year history, has provided public schools with a narrow accountability measure through high stakes testing and over-emphasis on testing; and

WHEREAS, the environment in schools has become one of test preparation rather than providing a learning environment; and

WHEREAS, the NCLB has NOT provided the educational gains outside those ordinarily provided without the over-emphasis of testing; and

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, LULAC supports a change in the reauthorization of the NCLB to reflect an emphasis on an assessment system premised upon multiple compensatory criteria whereby grades, portfolios, teacher recommendations, and other test scores are all taken into consideration to determine educational growth.

Approved this 1st day of July 2011.

Margaret Moran
LULAC National President