Chattanooga, Tennessee – Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen is not so fond of a new federal education initiative. Bredesen says the "No Child Left Behind" act is a perfect example of the federal goverment mandating something but not funding it.
He said he is not sure how much it will cost Tennessee taxpayers. Among other things, the legislation requires annual tests for grades three through eight, beginning in 2005, and highly qualified teachers in every classroom. Schools that fail to improve, must offer students supplemental tutoring and the chance to transfer to a higher achieving school nearby.
President Bush campaigned on his "No Child Left Behind" bill and quickly pushed it through Congress.