TEDNA

Here, and an excerpt:

SEATTLE (AP) — A Seattle elementary school teacher and a University of Washington researcher testified Tuesday before Congress on the federal education law known as No Child Left Behind, as lawmakers consider how to revise the framework for public schools.

Rachelle Moore, a first grade teacher at Madrona K-8 School, and Dan Goldhaber, director of the Center for Education Data and Research at the University of Washington, were asked by U.S. Sen. Patty Murray to share their opinions with the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

Murray, the senior U.S. senator from Washington state, is the ranking Democrat on the Senate committee. She has made updating the federal education law, which is formally known as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, a priority.

She wants to give states more flexibility in meeting education accountability goals, and focus on literacy for low-income kids, getting all students ready for careers and college and offering more support for tribal students, military kids and homeless children.

Moore, a national board certified teacher who has taught at Madrona for five years, spoke about mentoring teachers at the beginning of their careers to strengthen the nation’s public schools.