- Distributed by The Associated Press

As it returns from its August recess, Congress must very quickly go back to s chool. The 2002 No Child Left Behind law, one of President Bush's first initiatives, is due for reauthorization by the end of September.

It needs major repair. But there is an opportunity here to write a better law. For many years, too many, the federal government was a silent partner in public education. NCLB changed that significantly. That's progress that must not be sacrificed.

The NCLB statute has many fault lines, not the least of which is its funding stream. But a federal education standards program that complements New York's own can help, as has occurred in this state, identify problem schools and districts so resources may be guided there.

The goal then is to mend, and there's much to do. ...

Congress can't merely tinker under the hood on this one. The mission of NCLB should remain, but its methods must change.