What part of “No Child Left Behind” does the Westbrook School Department not understand?

It seems that the Westbrook School Department does not understand the intention of the federal legislation signed into law by President George W. Bush on Jan. 8, 2002, stating that no child will be left behind when it comes to obtaining an education. In plain English, this law entitles every child to have an equal opportunity to succeed in our nation’s public school system. U. S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spelling states, “school choice is part of the strategy to give every child an excellent education.”

So, why does a 7-year-old child who does not live in the Westbrook school district but has parents who work in Westbrook (he has attended child care in Westbrook since birth and has successfully completed his first two years of school in the Westbrook school system) all of a sudden get denied admittance? His hometown continues to approve his transfer and release of educational funds to Westbrook, but this year Westbrook has chosen not to accept him because of his participation in a special reading class, which the school department feels is costly to Westbrook. Let me remind you that his hometown has approved the transfer of funds but. Funds for special programs are paid in arrears. Evidently, Westbrook can’t wait for the money! To make matters worse, this child’s denial was not given until two weeks before school was to begin. The excuse provided was that the classes are currently full.

Well, of course they are! The population of Westbrook is bursting. Too many houses are being built on too small lots. Are the children living in any of those houses also being turned away because classes are full? Will they be denied special services because classes are full? Of course not!

Education is the key to success for our children and being turned away at the last minute is devastating to a small child who has done so well in his current school system. He now must transfer back to his hometown, ride a school bus for an hour each way. He does not know a single person, and his parents have no child care after school. What a needless hardship for one family!

Shame on the Westbrook superintendent and the Westbrook School Department! Once again, politics and finances override the importance of the true meaning of a law.

Colene and Rod Legere

Formerly of Westbrook

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