Today Cedar Hill (Duncanville, Tex.), Vol. 41, No. 41, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 25, 2007 Page: 4 of 18
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Page 4 • Cedar Hill Today • Thursday, January 25, 2007
OPINION
IT'S NOT OUNK
IANU BU5W IS
seNWNfc US Ait OUR
LETTERS WE'S OPENED
ANP REAP!
Reinvigorating No Child Left Behind
JOHN
CORNYN
Special To Today
One of the Bush
Administration’s
landmark legisla-
tive achievements,
the No Child Left
Behind Act
(NCLB), recently
observed its fifth
birthday. The law
expires and must be
renewed by 2008.
No Child Left
Behind is built on
the most worthy
premise imaginable
- that every child in America deserves
the opportunity to receive a quality
education, in order to fulfill his poten-
tial.
There are no critics of the law’s
goal: standards, accountability and
superior schools.
But the path to that goal is filled
with disagreement. The law was contro-
versial in 2001, and it’s controversial
now. Its final form was the result of
numerous compromises.
That’s what happens when trying to
impose a national solution on a part of
government - our K-12 education sys-
tem - that should be controlled at the
local level.
The bill has increased markedly fed-
eral spending on K-12 education, from
$23.1 billion in 2001 to $38.7 billion in
2006.
In Texas, federal funding for the
NCLB programs went from $1.2 billion
in 2001 to almost $2 billion in 2006.
Much of this federal aid is allocated
for specific programs, and is accompa-
nied by detailed instructions on how it
must be spent and onerous burdens on
schools to justify their funding.
Because there are numerous federal
mandates that accompany this federal
largesse, this ‘free’ money does come
at a cost.
In Florida, for instance, more than
40 percent of the state’s education
department staff is devoted to adminis-
tration and oversight of federal aid dol-
lars as they move from Washington to
local school districts.
Nationally, according to the Office
of Management and Budget, state and
local education employees logged 6.7
million additional hours of work on
NCLB-related reporting requirements.
Texas provides a good example of
some unintended results. Under then-
Gov. George W. Bush, Texas became
one of the first states to establish a
standards-based system.
Unfortunately, the 2001 law is often
unfairly applied to judge students in
each state. While it requires all students
to attain a minimum “proficiency” level
in math and reading by 2014, it unfairly
penalizes states that aim higher. This
creates a situation in which some states
dilute their testing measures in order to
meet proficiency requirements, while
others, like Texas, set high standards
and are then punished with poor profi-
ciency ratings.
Of course, some public schools in
Texas have recorded major improve-
ments, and I’m confident that teachers,
parents and administrators everywhere
are doing their best to improve on their
achievements.
But they might do even better if
there were more attention paid to learn-
ing, and less time spent filling out gov-
ernment paperwork.
Education is a function that is best
left mainly to parents, teachers and
local school boards.
As we reauthorize NCLB. we should
pursue ideas to reinforce local control
of innovation, even while ensuring
accountability in the results.
With my colleague from South
Carolina, Sen. Jim DeMint, I’ve pro-
posed legislation that would allow
states to bypass much of the federal red
tape and bureaucracy that’s grown up
around NCLB. Our bill is known as
Academic Partnerships Lead Us to
Success (A-PLUS) Act of 2007.
Currently, most NCLB funding is
earmarked for specific programs and
accompanied by elaborate federal red
tape. Our idea would allow states to
enter voluntarily into a charter agree-
ment or contract with the U S.
Department of Education, to let state
and local authorities identify their edu-
cation needs and priorities.
Under the charter, a state will have
the flexibility to consolidate federal
education programs and funding, and
redirect resources to reform initiatives
developed at the state level
These program results1 would be
published, and accountability for
improvement would remain in force.
See CHILD, Page 8
Hutchison comes to the rescue of Texas anglers
This month President
George W. Bush signed into
law the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and
Management Reauthorization
Act.
Included in this legislation
is a “Freedom to Fish” provi-
sion that I wrote to protect
Texas anglers.
Without my language, recre-
ational anglers would have
been penalized by restrictions
intended to affect only com-
mercial fishing. I support
efforts to protect our environ-
ment in a sensible fashion and in a manner that does
not deny Texans opportunities to enjoy the great out-
KAY BAILEY
HUTCHISON
Special To Today
doors.
An unmistakable part of our state’s identity is its
natural beauty.
Texas possesses a diverse landscape that includes
mountains, canyons, beaches and forests, and there
are 80 state parks for Texans to explore and enjoy.
Wildlife is also abundant, with nearly 300 species
native to the Lone Star State.
Activities such as camping, hiking, hunting and
fishing offer a special time to appreciate nature and
provide families with opportunities to enjoy Texas
together.
They encourage bonds and friendships.
Furthermore, revenue from the management of hunt-
ing and fishing provides for many preservation
efforts.
Since the 1930s, legal hunting has also funded the
bulk of wildlife conservation efforts in Texas through
the Wildlife Restoration Program
The federal taxes from the sale of sporting arms,
ammunition and archery equipment is appropriated to
each state using a formula based on the state’s total
area and the number of licensed hunters in the state.
Texas receives more than $8 million each year to
support wildlife restoration in more than 50 wildlife
management areas covering more than 750,000 acres.
In other parts of the country, special-interest
groups continue to take away the rights of hunters.
Last fall, Michigan became the 38th state to ban
dove hunting. Should a similar ban ever be proposed
in Texas, 1 will be the first to sign up in opposition.
People who hunt and fish are already subject to strin-
gent regulations, and passing unnecessary hunting
bans would deny many Texans a cherished sport and
See ANGLERS, Page 8
YOUR LETTERS
Send letters to (edar Hill
Today, c/o News Editor Loyd
Brumfield. 1701 N Hampton,
Suite C. DeSoto, TX. 75115. or
PO Box 381029, Duncanville TX
75138 Fax letters to 972-298-
6369 or e-mail them to v
cedarhill(u)todaynewspapers net
Include a home address and
daytime phone number for verifi-
catinw purposes ewty Only ywwr
name and hometown will be pub-
lished.
brevity, clarity, style, taste, gram-
mar and libel Any change that
may materially affect the content
of a letter will be confirmed with
the writer Today Newspapers
reserves the right to accept or
reject any letter without cause
Cedar Hill Today Staff
Robin (iooeh
Publisher and Managing Editor
Kim Petty
Advertising Director
Loyd Brumfield
Mews Editor
Brian Allen
Staff Writer-
Chris Hudson and David (,oodspeed
Photographers
4W—..............................
Retail ad sales
Heather Hawkins
Classified ad sales
Troy Peoples
Distribution Coordinator
Betty Beil
Lifestyles Editor
Cedar Hill Today Information
Deadlines
Classifieds:
Display classified ads — 5 p.m.
Tuesday Line ads — 5 p m. Tuesday
Retail Advertising: 5 p m Monday.
Advertising rates may be secured upon
request
Editorial:
School news — 5 p m Friday
Ueneral news—noon Monday
Deadlines are subject to change due to holi-
days and will be published m advance
Subscriptions
Subscription rates - $25 pa year in
city, $34 per year elsewhere in Texas All
subscriptions payable in advance and non-
rrfundable The publisher reserves the right
to change advertising and subacripbon
rates at any tune
General Informatum
Today Cedar Hill is an independent
newspaper published weekly in the interest
of Cedar Hill. Any erroneous reflection
upon the integrity or reputation of any tndi
vidual will be corrected if brought to the
attention of the news editor
Digests run on a space available basis
Letter Policy
_The Opinion Page nfTnriav News-_
papers is an open forum for all viewpoints
letters to the editor and guest columns are
Deadkne is noon Monday in person at*
1701 N Hampton in DeSoto, or by mail to
PO. Box 381029, Dmcanvilk, TX 75138.
Letters must have an original signa-
ller, with a home address and daytime
telephone number for verification purpos-
es only.
The content of all letters will be pre-
served within guidelines of clarity, style.
taste, etc letters should he of interest to
local readers and should be linpted to 300
words A complete list of editorial policies,
including the submission of guest
columns, is available at the above location
C all 972-298-4211 for further information
Publication in one newspaper does not
guarantee a letter will be published in any
other town
Hmv to Contact Us
I nation:
DeSoto Office — 1701 N Hampton Road,
Suite C, DeSoto, 75115
HmmWi89S4gH
Flax: 972-298-6369
E-mail: cedaitiill(<rtndaynrwspapers net
Postage Information
Today ( edar Hill (USPS 095640,
ISSN 0704-0428) is published every
Thursday by Today Newspapers. 1126
Don’t
lose
track
Y
\ <8
CHARLES
PEYTON
Financ iai Focus
You can
lose your
gloves.
You can
lose your
keys. But
you’d
never lose
track of
your
invest-
ments,
would
you?
Act-
ually, you might be surprised
at just how many people do
forget about investments, or
leave them-behind when they
move.
Every state maintains
unclaimed-property offices to
deal with millions of dollars
worth of stocks, bonds, bank
accounts, uneashed checks,
pensions, 401 (k )s and IRAs.
To avoid losing track of
your financial assets, follow
these suggestions:
• keep records of all bank
accounts and investments —
It would probably take just a
few minutes for you to write
up a list of all your bank
accounts and investments. And
you don’t have to go into great
detail, either just include the
type of account and where it’s
currently held.
Make sure you share this
list with a family member.
• Inform banks and bro-
kers when you move or
change names — Notify your
bank, broker, 401 (k) adminis-
trator, insurance company and
any other financial service
agency you work with when
you move or if you change
your name due to marriage or
divorce.
• Cash checks promptly
— Whenever you receive
stock dividends or distribu-
tions from a retirement plan,
cash the checks promptly.
The longer you leave these
checks lying around, the
greater the likelihood that
you'll forget about them.
Of course, in the ease of
dividends, if you don't need
the income you are probably
better off by automatically
reinvesting them, as this
builds the number of shares
you ow n, but if you’re going
to accept the checks, take care
of them right away.
• Don’t give up — Even if
you do lose track of invest-
ments or bank accounts, it
doesn’t mean they are gone
forever.
Try to “retrace your steps”
back to where you think you
might have held your
accounts.
Most financial services
providers will do what they
can to help you. As an alterna-
tive, you might want to visit
the website of the National
Association of Unclaimed
Property Administrators
(www.unelaimed.org).
There are no guarantees,
but this organization can at
least help get you started in
the process of finding your
missing assets.
Consolidate your accounts
See TRACK Page 8
E xplorer, Suite A, Duncanville. Texas
75137 Second class postage paid at
Duncanville, Texas 75138-1029 Post-
master Send address changes to Today
Cedar Hill, PO. Box 381029, Duncanville,
Texas 75138-1029
Mirl A M Tim*
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Gooch, Robin. Today Cedar Hill (Duncanville, Tex.), Vol. 41, No. 41, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 25, 2007, newspaper, January 25, 2007; Duncanville, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth568765/m1/4/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Zula B. Wylie Memorial Library.