What should stay, what should go in NCLB?

As Washington Republicans prepare to rewrite sweeping federal education legislation, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan this morning laid out his own vision for the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, also known as No Child Left Behind.

Here’s how the Washington Post described it:

He talked broadly about equal educational opportunity as a civil right — and as a moral and economic imperative for the country — but he included a few specific ideas he wants incorporated in federal law. He said any new law must include a provision that states test every student annually in math and reading in grades 3 to 8 and once in high school. “I believe parents, teachers and students have both the right and the need to know how much progress all students are making each year toward college and career readiness,” Duncan said. “That means all students need to take annual statewide assessments that are aligned with their teacher’s classroom instruction.”

Among his priorities: more flexibility for states, funding for preschool, $1 billion annually in federal aid for schools with the neediest students, and maintaining the federal mandate that states must test students annually in math and reading.

You can watch Duncan’s full speech here:

Duncan’s speech brings us to our question of the week: What should Congress’ priorities be when it rewrites No Child Left Behind? 

If you need a refresher on what No Child Left Behind does, check out this explainer Chalkbeat’s Maura Walz did when she was at the Southern Education Desk.

Each Monday, we ask readers a question about a timely or timeless question about their experiences in education. Readers who want to share their opinions should leave a response in the comment section below, tweet us @ChalkbeatCO, send an email, or leave a comment on our Facebook wall. Every Friday we round up the responses. Here’s last week’s.