Is the Federal Government overstepping its boundaries by having the No Child Left Behind Act?
105275
I'm not sure if they're overstepping their boundaries but I can say that "No Child Left Behind" is idealistic and unrealistic.  Children were not meant to sit in a classroom all day.  They should be out playing and enjoying their youth.  Their education strengthens the country, but to assume that all children can get through school is ridiculous.  The children cannot adapt without performance enhancing drugs and programs so the schools will adapt.  And through this adaptation it is likely that the quality of education of the children who actually benefit from school will fall.  My biggest qualm with high school is that it was not difficult enough.  I breezed through school and then had a tough transition into college.  And this transition is very common.  \n\nThe Japanese are a dominant world power when it comes to technology.  Their school system is realistic.  They only take from what I've read about half of the middle school students into high school.  This fixes the curves that allowed me to breeze through high school.  The tests were too easy.  You don't need a high school education to be a janitor or to deliver pizza or any of the other easy jobs so why waste these kids' time?  I feel No Child Left behind takes education in the wrong direction.  Plus it puts emphasis on standardized testing which always just leads to teachers wasting time preparing the students for the test instead of preparing them for life.\n\nLet's go with yes, they are overstepping the boundaries!  This is a state issue like gay marriage.
417172
This is a good rule! If you go by the URL like: Dot Gov, Dot edu, or Dot org. These will be the most legitimate organizations. Dot edu, has a lot of school programs with "NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND GRANTS".
1069448
I took a quick glance at it and it still seems similar to the regulations that are already in place here in Massachusetts.\n\nMany of my special education parents are involved...some are TOO involved.  Unfortunately there are many as well that are not invested.  \n\nI do think it is important to keep parents involved and up to date with their child's educational concerns.  It is a crucial role in the meeting for you ALL to agree on the appropriate accommodations/modifications necessary for a child to succeed.  However, I do feel that there are some parents who hold their child back from succeeding because they are scared.  For example, this coming school year I would like to take my small group students in my math class (all 3 of them) into the regular education setting.  I have a rough feeling that one particular parent will not allow this.  Why...I don't know.\n\nI feel that IDEA is giving parents more and more rights/responsibilities.  Perhaps in the future it will look at schools as well and give them equal rights.  It seems that the parents are driving the force behind many choices legislature and administration are creating.
700347
You're opinion is accurate about most public schools and it's sad that they have become that way. No Child Left Behind needs to be left behind. Students don't have motivation anymore because just like you said, they don't have discipline and could care less.  NCLB causes teachers to rush and teach to the test and it takes any possible fun or spare time out of learning thus making it even harder to get the kids to listen and try their best.
424481
(1) The government doesn't know how to properly handle education so it encompasses ALL students\n\n(2) They're trying to fix problems that have their roots in centuries-old practices \n\n(3) They want to make it look like they're doing something useful for American education\n\nBasically one of the underlying issues is "separation vs. inclusion", and no one knows how to properly address it. Probably because there will always be some types of students who fare better in inclusive classrooms, and others who do better with separate instruction. It's too much of a "problem" for the government to figure it all out so everybody gets what they need, so they try to offer a solution that STILL excludes some children.
1108293
This is the toughest of the Federal Law requirements to understand and change.\n\nYou cannot deny a child education.  You don't want them to be like Gypsies.  I heard some people were and asked a couple 12 year olds how they were doing in school.  They flat out told me they never went to school.\n\nSo instead of sending them to school with the rest of the kids, I say their parents pay for home schooling by a representative of the state with English as the first requirement.  If you have to use school property, the cost has to be made up somewhere.  Since it's the jobs that attract them, businesses would have to pay at the county level, not the residents.\n\nIf you require that they go to school, then it cannot be illegal to separate kids by language, but a requirement in order to take the school system seriously.\n\nThey get the attention, they get the education, everyone else sufffers.\n\nAs a national language, I see no problem requiring it to get an education.\n\nAleks:  We can see who in the classroom you do your job with to educate children, and who is the hater now?
808326
If you mean, the free education we have that has taught less than 35% of our children to read at a 3rd grade level,  low standards for children, lack of education for the educator and general chaos in our schools as the way we know it today.. I HOPE SO!   I really hope the new changes to the American Education Act (No Child Left Behind) really improves our schools.  The one good thing Bush gave us.  No one is accountable and our children are among the least educated in the world... shameful!
1077507
They figure they've managed to completely destroy all learning by making public school some mundane and full of busy work that we will all be too stupid to pay attention. That was part of their plan in dumbing-down the public school system, which in its very existance is contrary to the Constitution. Giving government the control over our children for 13 years is a really bad idea: it breeds complacent, TV watching zombies...just like our government likes us.
401934
It depends on which tests/assessments you mean.  If you mean the regular weekly tests given over classwork, then no...teachers need to constantly monitor how well their students are gaining the skills/knowledge to see what needs re-teaching.\n\nIf you mean the state standardized tests and No Child Left Behind demands for performance, HECK YEAH IT'S TOO MUCH!!!\n\nWe spend 3 weeks every March testing, testing, testing, instead of teaching...and now they want to add Kinder, First, and Second graders to the formal state tests.  It is just too much, too high-stress for the kids, and takes too much time away from instruction. As a special education teacher, I can chart regression of skills issues to determine need for summer school over the testing window. My kids fall farther behind doing tests that they are not ready for.\n\nIf we want higher accountability, then have each student maintain a portfolio of work, and make passing grades B's rather than D's (80% mastery of material rather than 60%).
231533
Yes, I think the government intrudes on our personal life way too much.  A parent could be arrested for spanking their child.  The Dept. of Human Services has become a threat to every parent.  Your kids can be taken away a lot easier these days.  My neighbor will lose her kids if she misses too many counseling appointments that were set up by DHS.  It's getting ridiculous.....
397477
whether it's fair or not, limiting budgets will increase the parity.  i don't think parity can ever be equalized since certain factors will always be different - things like school size, location, admissions standards, etc.
541477
yup... Bush has made cuts to education and that's not mentioning his No Child Left Behind program that has heavily taxed an already overburdened system... \nAnd college tuition has went up an average of 40 percent since Bush's presidency... and loans and grants are down...\nEducation is far down his list, and all of his suporters have their children in private school and just want the school choice program so they can milk the system even more...\n\nNot everyone can afford private school... and has anyone ever been in an inner-city school... or even a school that is way out in the middle of nowhere in the south... poverty beyond belief and no supplies...
342744
"In America, no child should be left behind. Every child should be educated to his or her full potential. This proposal sets forth the Presidents proposed framework to accomplish that goal. This Administration will work with Congress to ensure that this happens quickly, and in a bipartisan manner"\n\nYet still- this issue remains unsolved.  I completely agree with you- why can't we Americans deal with this- as these are our future generations- we need them, educated and aware of the world around them!
170665
Well they sure like to talk about it but the whole "No child left behind" concept has caused many schools to focus only on teaching for the sake of raising test scores and not on having the kids make real practical use of the material. Unfortunately many schools that needed extra help got punished instead.
105769
Hmm, I believe you answered your own question. I would also agree that too many parents think school is too hard on their children, when the truth is that's the way it supposed to be. It's all about "stretching young minds."
870679
Well, perhaps that's where the world is going. Nowadays teachers not only have to teach, but according to the government take over teaching values, respect, sex education, handling money & social skills. Perhaps they are now expected to do the learning for the students too?!? Hmmmm, interesting thought....
85672
well every person has to have top grade education for free. but the no child left behind is only focused on a random choice of people. im doing bad, and my teacher says," fail, we dont care." and another teacher told me," do something like drugs or do anyhting illegal, but dont disturb the class!!!"