FYI: Nine out of ten principals and superintendents in a national poll called the federal No Child Left Behind an “unfunded mandate” that complicates their work without giving them the resources to do it. Ninety-three percent of superintendents and 88 percent of principals said their biggest challenge is dealing with this sort of mandate from state and federal government without getting the necessary money. New York-based Public Agenda surveyed nearly 2,000 school and district heads this summer on the challenges of their jobs. While the vast majority believes that the new focus on minimum standards is here to stay, they are also skeptical of the political motivation behind the No Child Left Behind act. [11/19/03]