The No Child Left Behind Act?
396380
The "No Child Left Behind Act": Pros and Cons\nWhat are the Pros? \n\n1. Accountability - Schools and districts must demonstrate annually that all students - and all groups of students - are meeting state goals for grade-level work to be counted as making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). \n\n2. Focus on Children of all Backgrounds – Every state is now required to test all children in grades 3 through 8 and report scores broken down by race, ethnicity, low-income, English proficiency and special needs categories. \n\n3. Highly Qualified Staff – Sets specific requirements for teacher’s degrees and continuing education. \n\n4. Help for High-Poverty Schools – Title I schools receive both financial and technical assistance to develop and implement a school improvement plan. In addition, eligible parents will be able to transfer their children to other public schools if improvement is not met or get outside tutoring assistance for them.\n5. It stirred the literacy program researchers to advise the reinstatement of phonics in early grades. They discredited the premise of whole language in response to low literacy rates.\nCons:\n1. Freedom to Leave Failing Schools - While this is also a positive aspect of the No Child Left Behind Act, it may create problems in areas where many schools are failing to meet the guidelines. There may be no real choice in the end due to higher enrollment numbers in schools performing slightly better. \n\n2. Unrealistic Timeline – While many parts of the timeline set reasonable and realistic expectations as to improvement of student performance, other portions of the timeline may be impractical. For instance, teacher education requirements could be set too soon on the timeline for schools to comply. \n\n3. Unreasonable AYP Requirements – Adequate Yearly Progress is a vital part of any long-term plan, especially for the No Child Left Behind Act. However, some aspects of this goal may be unrealistic in cases of some special needs students and ESL classrooms.\n\n\n 4. The federal law, "No Child Left Behind", and standards-\nbased curriculum clashed. It lead to "teaching to the test". Dire consequences for schools and teachers of "No Child Left Behind" affect curriculum through fear. Literacy program researchers retained much of whole language's jargon and perspective.\nThe "No Child Left Behind Act" is the most recent in a long history of system changes and education reform initiatives, some teacher-directed, others student-centered, this one test-centered.Democracy depends on the literacy of the majority, but success\nhas been elusive.
527285
Get those cheap paper plates and draw faces on them.  Then put on a skit with puppets or books.  When something happens with a character have the kids hold up the face that shows the emotion of how the character feels.  For example have a puppet character lose a toy, then ask the kids to hold up the face that shows how that character must feel.    \n\nNorman, lighten up, these are pre-schoolers she is asking about.  And actually, the no child left behind act is now placing so much emphasis on reading and math that subjects like science, languages and music are getting left behind.  Yes kids need the basics like reading and math, but they need the other things too to be well-rounded and to make sure that kids who have strengths in different areas all get a chance.  And by the way, I don't think very many schools even teach sex education.
83288
Political fluff... he's an a*s h*le.  It was underfunded and was a total failure.  It's now nicknamed the every child left behind act.
495508
I believe all those saying "too long to read" are victims of the #11 where the "No Child Left Behind" Act completely gutted our educational system as well as #6 where you don't need to think for yourself, overpaid corporate puppet pop stars can do all the thinking for you.  No need to read, like, words and stuff...buy Nike shoes and drink Coke!\n\nTurbo, my man, you don't get out much do you?  Its ok, watch your Fox News blurbs during American Idol and I'll see you in Sunday school...if someone can't see the paralells in how our great and unique expirement in a lasting constitutional Republic has devolved into just the latest Empire to come down the pike, they have no grasp of history.
455425
IMO, standardized testing has been mandated (No Child Left Behind) because cronies of Bush &Co own companies that produce, administer, and score standardized tests.
461253
It should be unacceptable to allow kids to continue to the next academic level if they are unable to spell and write simple sentences at their current level. The idea of "No Child Left Behind" is a good one, if it were organized differently and funded better. Many international students that I have talked with feel a certain disdain for the level of illiteracy of many American students. Education doesn't seem to be taken very seriously here as compared to many countries in the world. Many students want to take the easiest route possible. That is one of the reasons so many upper level scientific and engineering professionals come from elsewhere, and, according to some of the things I have read, why certain jobs go overseas. The jobs are taken more seriously.
82905
In a perfect world, it would be nice to not have to rely on things such a standardized tests to measure the quality of education, but in a country with such a huge public school system, that is not really probable. I don't think standardized tests in themselves are a bad thing. I agree that there should be standards and checkpoints. It becomes a problem when teachers are forced to teach to these tests. The true goal of education is lost in trying to raise test-scores. This is even more true when the attainment of school-funding rides on these tests. No Child Left Behind is a disasterous plan. Even if its trickery works and some test scores are raised, are students actually learning more?\nTo completely abolish the use of standardized tests would mean a complete renovation of our public school system, and unfortunately, that is not going to happen.
938385
It's not working because it wasn't written by educators. It was written by beaurocrats.\n\nThe only way to fix the educational system is to let educators write the laws. Not the beaurocrats.
125209
NO!!!!  Ever been in line to get a drivers license?  Actually, quite the opposite.  I believe we need to privatize schools.  Capitalism will only make the product better. Instead of government controlling everything if we allow the private sector to compete for our children and their education they will have no choice but to be better schools.
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!
997704
I taught in a public school for three years.  The "powers that be" actually told me to stop grading for grammatical and spelling errors, saying all of my students would fail.  That is a travesty.  From my perspective as a teacher, ignorance (which is what I believe you are really asking) is on the rise.  Despite compulsory education, it almost appears to me that we are reverting to a 19th century-like model with an educated few and masses of ignorance.
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".
659233
HOT TOPIC!  I have mixed views.  On the 1 hand the test is at an 8th grade level, so yes I want high school graduates to pass.  And, they do get 6 chances to pass.  On the other hand some of the students that have to take the test are immagrants new to the state.  It is unfair that they have to pass an english test.  I do think we as a state need to revisit the law and develop an ammendment to better meets the needs of every student and takes each circumstance under consideration.
923462
If you have been following the news, you will know that they passed the bill, but never passed legislation to fund it.  The part of that No Child Left Behind Act, that they didn't publicize, is that it gives military recruiters access to information, to which they did not formerly have access.\n\nPeople are making quite a fuss about recruiters, who can force schools to hand over unlisted phone numbers, addresses, etc.  \nThey are also now permitted to take kids out of class to try to pitch their line about joining up.  They are appearing on people's doorsteps, uninvited, and insisting on talking to the high school kids.\n\nYou need to watch more network news.  The only thing that legistlation did is put more of a financial burden on local school districts and give military recruiters better access to the poor kids who will not be able to afford college.  Then, the Republicans were the majority in both houses of congress and refused to pass money to fund the Bill.  Maybe now, after January, there may be something done.
1141350
It's not working ANYWHERE!!  Not only are the politicians and policies leaving the children behind...but they are leaving the parents behind as well!!  (Every time we send an American Job overseas, we lose a job here, which in turn reduces taxes collected to fund the programs the government establishes.)  With regard to the NCLB bill, it was designed to establish better accountability, funding, state assessments etc. throughout the country.  Not only has this not been done in the state of NY, but also the track record of NCLB is null...there isn't one.  Have you seen the literacy rate in the state of FL?  Isn't that Jeb Bush's state?  I could write a book on this topic since I volunteer many hours within our local public school system.  The funding isn't available, the accountability isn't there, and there are NO checks and balances for this program.  It is a great idea, and could have promise if it were properly implemented and funded; but that has yet to happen.  \n\nBottom line, you aren't alone...we are ALL in the same boat here\n!
485078
No Child Left Behind is FULL OF IT!!!\n\nIt is unfair to students (how fair would it be to go to the hospital and inform the staff there that every patient, including those in the ICU, will have to run the New York City Marthon in less than 6 months or the hospital will be closed down and the staff won't be able to find jobs elsewhere?), makes teachers and schools the scapegoat for variables out of their control such as parenting issues (student attendance, etc.), and totally ignores most Special Education and ELL best practices research.\n\nAlso, increased testing time reduces instructional time (both the "big" state testing done in the spring, and the constant "data collection" efforts by districts using various assessment instruments in an attempt to provide alternative data if the kids fail state testing).\n\nThe "highly qualified" provisions place burden of proof for knowledge and skills on districts and teachers rather than on teacher prep programs. You would think that the college diploma (and continuing professional development certificates) would be proof of appropriate professional training. If incompetent teachers are there, it is because college programs failed to screen them properly. \n\nThe top cause of teacher burnout is paperwork/administrative stress, not the students. NCLB increases paperwork and administrative demands on the teachers.\n\nSchool administrators are finding their hands tied in regards to building discipline, because NCLB places AYP in jeapordy if there are "too many" office referrals and discipline actions...and the real troublemakers are quick to notice this and abuse it.\n\nWell, I could go on with more examples, but you get the idea.
208957
I totally agree with you.  I am getting a degree in ECE (early childhood education, K-3) and have decided against student teaching because honestly I do not want to be a teacher anymore. \n\n The things I have witnessed has deterred me from teaching because of the restrictions put on teachers.  Educators are not allowed to explain the realities of situations.  They cannot even go off topic to discuss anything aside from the assigned curriculum. \n\n The No Child Left Behind Act has created chaos due to its focus solely on standardized tests.  Children need to learn and discuss skills in school and not worry about passing a standardized test, which many students fail, only to reflect negatively on the school and its teachers.  To discuss the realities of Hurricane Katrina or whatever main event gong on in the world would be to go off track of the curriculum and thus would not allow the teacher to complete the days math lesson... \n\nI believe the students need to understand that the world does not owe them anything and that they must make their own way to become successful adults.  There is too much of a focus on what the student needs, and in the real world it is the utilitarian view, and not the view of how things will work out best for each individual.  \n\nOnly when we as educators and parents allow students to see the realities of the world and the fact that they must do their own good to make it in the world, will the students of today not feel as though they are owed something.