Federal attorney put focus on education
By Earl Horlyk, Journal staff writer | Posted: Thursday, August 28, 2008
SIOUX CITY -- David De Schryver describes himself as someone who can navigate local governmental bodies "out of the weeds" when it comes to education.
"Local government, as well as state government, need to know what's happening at the federal level," De Schryver, a Washington, D.C.-based attorney, said, "because it will affect them when it comes to the type of legislation they pass and what it means to them when it comes to federal funding."
De Schryver spoke to members of the Sioux City Community School District at a special noon meeting Wednesday.
"We want to see what progress has been made regarding the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act because it gives us a clear directive of student progress," Superintendent Paul Gausman said. "The law establishes a measure of proficiency and we want to make sure all of our students are able to boost their proficiency level and go beyond that."
Gausman said he also was anxious to learn about other federal legislation that may impact his school district.
"The good thing is that everyone, at the federal level, agrees that education is a priority," De Schryver said. "The bad news is that, in an election year, everything comes to a standstill.
"Politicians are too busy reading the tea leaves, wondering who'll be setting policy, to do much else."
According to De Schryver, many politicians focus their attentions on early childhood education and access to college at a time when they should be concentrating on K-12 education, which he describes as "the meat of every education program."
De Schryver expressed some reservations regarding the education proposals made by the two major party presidential candidates.
"(Barack) Obama's proposals are interesting but don't go far enough," he said, "while (John) McCain's policies go down the (Republican) party line with its emphasis on teacher accountability standards and strenghtening control at the state level."
Although he predicts major changes no matter which party take the Oval Office in November, De Schryver said he believes No Child Left Behind will have a better chance of surviving under an Obama administration.
"Sen. Edward Kennedy was one of the chief architects of NCLB and his early endorsement of Obama may play some role in its future," De Shryver predicted.
"Local government, as well as state government, need to know what's happening at the federal level," De Schryver, a Washington, D.C.-based attorney, said, "because it will affect them when it comes to the type of legislation they pass and what it means to them when it comes to federal funding."
De Schryver spoke to members of the Sioux City Community School District at a special noon meeting Wednesday.
"We want to see what progress has been made regarding the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act because it gives us a clear directive of student progress," Superintendent Paul Gausman said. "The law establishes a measure of proficiency and we want to make sure all of our students are able to boost their proficiency level and go beyond that."
Gausman said he also was anxious to learn about other federal legislation that may impact his school district.
"The good thing is that everyone, at the federal level, agrees that education is a priority," De Schryver said. "The bad news is that, in an election year, everything comes to a standstill.
"Politicians are too busy reading the tea leaves, wondering who'll be setting policy, to do much else."
According to De Schryver, many politicians focus their attentions on early childhood education and access to college at a time when they should be concentrating on K-12 education, which he describes as "the meat of every education program."
De Schryver expressed some reservations regarding the education proposals made by the two major party presidential candidates.
"(Barack) Obama's proposals are interesting but don't go far enough," he said, "while (John) McCain's policies go down the (Republican) party line with its emphasis on teacher accountability standards and strenghtening control at the state level."
Although he predicts major changes no matter which party take the Oval Office in November, De Schryver said he believes No Child Left Behind will have a better chance of surviving under an Obama administration.
"Sen. Edward Kennedy was one of the chief architects of NCLB and his early endorsement of Obama may play some role in its future," De Shryver predicted.
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