NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT GRADED SPELLINGS GETS L.A. OPINION.

Byline: NAUSH BOGHOSSIAN Staff Writer

NORTH HILLS -- The federal government's controversial program to make schools accountable for student achievement is working but could be improved, U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings said Monday during a visit to a San Fernando Valley campus.

Criticized by local and state education officials as an unrealistic benchmark, the No Child Left Behind Act requires the nation's schools to have all students reading and doing math at their grade level by 2014. Schools that don't will face sanctions.

``We're pleased but not satisfied,'' Spellings said about the five-year-old law. ``There certainly is work to do, and that's why we're here -- talking with officials here about what are things we can do together to make improvements.''

Signed into law Jan. 8, 2002, the No Child Left Behind Act is up for reauthorization next year. Some hope that a Democratic-controlled Congress will revise the bill to be less punitive, with goals educators consider more realistic.

``(The act) needs to be fixed this spring. You can't expect every kid to pole-vault 17 feet in four years,'' David Tokofsky, a member of the Los Angeles Unified School district board, said.

Spellings visited Los Angeles to raise awareness of free federal tutoring available for qualifying schools -- one of the key programs offered under the act. She went to Noble because 51 percent of its eligible students take advantage of the tutoring before or after school or on weekends. Districtwide, just 30 percent of eligible students participate.

``When it comes to getting students enrolled in free tutoring, Noble Avenue Elementary is a shining example for others to follow. These programs help children achieve academic success and prepare for great lives,'' said Spellings, who is pushing for the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Superintendent David Brewer III, Rep. Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon, R-Santa Clarita, and school board members met with Spellings to discuss what can be done to secure more federal funding and increase on-campus tutoring opportunities.

There are 310,000 LAUSD students in 200 schools eligible for the tutoring, but district officials say they have funding only for 40,000 spots -- of which 93 percent are filled.

``As (the act) has gone five years (with) many, many aspects we support, it needs to be sorted fiscally also,'' said Donnalyn Jacque-Anton, executive officer for educational services at the LAUSD. ``We've got a mandate but there hasn't been any real increase in funding.''

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Photo:

Fifth-grader Anthony Lingad speaks with, from left, LAUSD Superintendent David Brewer III, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, Rep. Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon, R-Santa Clarita, L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Principal Margaret Espinosa-Nelson on Monday at Noble Elementary School.

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer