[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22882]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       INCREASING SCHOOL'S OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUCCESS ACT OF 2008

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. STEVE BUYER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 26, 2008

  Mr. BUYER. Madam Speaker, today I introduce the Increasing School's 
Opportunities for Success Act to make two important changes to ``No 
Child Left Behind.''
  After meeting with local educators and principals I was inspired to 
reform ``No Child Left Behind'' to better meet the needs of both 
educators and students. This bill will allow high schools to stay 
competitive with graduation rates as well as give them a chance to have 
better annual assessment scores by allowing limited English proficient, 
LEP, students have more time to learn English before being tested.
  Currently, when a student with disabilities does not graduate in the 
standard number of years (3 or 4 years), they are misrepresented as a 
dropout against that school's graduation rate even though the 
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, IDEA, allows students with 
disabilities to stay in school until their 22nd birthday. Adding the 
provision outlined in my bill to ESEA would align it with IDEA, 
standardizing the statutes.
  Current law allows limited English proficient, LEP, students to wait 
until they have been in the United States for 3 years before being 
tested for English fluency. This bill simply extends that period of 
time to 5 years. By doing so, LEP students will have more time to 
become proficient in English before being tested and therefore 
reflected in the school's annual assessment.
  Education is the basis for success and ``No Child Left Behind'' is 
focused on ensuring that our children receive a quality education--the 
necessary foundation for a successful life. My bill offers two minor 
but substantive changes to current law that will help our schools, 
students, faculty and staff to better our education system. I ask for 
your support and the support of my colleagues to pass this important 
legislation.

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