Renzi Meets with Deputy Secretary of Education to Express Concerns about No Child Left Behind

Congressman shares issues raised during August, 2006 summit of rural Arizona parents, students, and teachers WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi (AZ-01) recently met with U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Raymond Simon to present concerns that First Congressional District parents, students, teachers, and administrators have about the No Child Left Behind Act. Many of the concerns Renzi shared with Deputy Secretary Simon emerged from a roundtable discussion that Renzi held with rural Arizona's top education leaders and former House Education and the Workforce Chairman Howard P. "Buck" McKeon (CA-25) on August 30, 2006. "I am very grateful that Deputy Secretary Simon took time to meet with me to listen to the challenges that No Child Left Behind presents for our rural district," said Congressman Renzi. "The fact remains that many rural schools lack the adequate resources to implement this well-intentioned law, which if administered properly, could do a lot of good for the students of our district. Today's meeting was an important first step, and I look forward to continuing to work with Deputy Secretary Simon in the months ahead to ensure that our concerns are addressed when the law is reauthorized." Among the concerns that Congressman Renzi raised with Deputy Secretary Simon include: * Challenges for rural schools to meet standards for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) * Meeting teacher qualifications set forth by NCLB * Challenges for Native American Schools