Report recommends changes to No Child Act

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- A bipartisan U.S. commission has issued its final report on recommendations for the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act.

The 75 recommendations in the report by the Commission on No Child Left Behind focus on making sure teachers and principals are effective, improving accountability measures, effective school improvement and student options, rigorous standards and strengthening high schools.

"We hope this report will serve as a blueprint for Congress and the administration as they work to reauthorize NCLB this year," said co-chairman Tommy Thompson in a release.

The No Child Left Behind Act was created "to raise student achievement for all children while addressing the achievement gaps that separate disadvantaged students from their non-disadvantaged peers," the commission said.

Jack Jennings, head of the non-profit Center on Education Policy, applauded the recommendations. "Now is the time to look at new ideas and proposals to make sure every student receives the assistance necessary to achieve at high levels," he said in a release.