No Child Left Behind Overhaul Effort Draws Bipartisan Support

In a bid for bipartisanship, a small but influential group of senior U.S. House members is joining the effort to revise the No Child Left Behind Law -- the nation's federal education standard that was supposed to be rewritten last year.

The landmark law, requiring more accountability from failing public schools and standardized testing, was enacted in 2002 after being pushed through Congress largely through the bipartisan efforts of the Bush White House and the late Sen. Ted Kennedy.

But it is due for a tune up. Teachers, administrators and parents have objected to many elements, including the testing requirements, which, critics contend, cause teachers to "teach to the test." Last month, the Obama administration began talks with lawmakers to overhaul the law.

Rep. George Miller, (D-Calif.) chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, is leading the effort along with the panel's top Republicans, Reps. John Kline of Minnesota, Dale Kildee of Michigan and Michael Castle of Delaware, The Washington Post reported.

Miller will begin hearings in the coming weeks to figure out what needs to be fixed. But he better get going. Midterm elections are approaching and Castle -- for one -- is running for the Senate in a contest that could turn Delaware from blue to red.