The Education Wonks
No Child Left Behind is a meaningless political slogan. I'd like to see legislation that allows and requires the public school system to go into the homes of the worst performing and worst behaving students and compare the number of books against the number of video games, DVD's, ashtrays, empty beer cans, etc.
It's the parents stupid.
I am starting a research project regarding schools in Ohio and across the nation that have experienced and implemented the santions under NCLB. Any resources and advice you could give me would be benefical.
Our High School has not made AYP in one category for four consecutive years. We are on the brink of a total school "restructuring" meaning that all teachers will be non-renewed, and re-hired only at the whims of the administration. I am greatly concerned.
Here in Maryland the state department of education was going to take over most of Baltimore City Schools as required by NCLB. No sooner did the announcement get made then the state legislature pass a law forbidding the take-over.
The state does not know what to do to turn bad schools into good schools. The state is stuck with the rules it forced on the school districts and are not allowed to change the rules in a take-over since that will create hundreds of lawsuits from people (admin and teachers alike) who were forbidden the rules they said they needed that the state would change in their take-over. The state is stuck.
Our solution was to make the standards lower. We now have a 10th grade biology test that an 8th grader who reads on grade level and having never taken biology can pass. That's how we set it up. On purpose.
We have been a system of fraud for a very long time. NCLB has busted us all.
Miller Smith, do you think this "sunlight" is a good thing or not?
But what does Jebbie say?
I think this will always be especially onerous in states like Florida, California and Texas where the amount of immigration pretty much guarantees that there will always be some kids catching up with English and behind in everything else.
What would be a reasonable percentage of proficiency???
A very very good thing Darren.
"an unobtainable goal"
You mean "unattainable".
Thx for the info on maryland - and to think I considered teaching around DC. So I guess the word to new teachers would be - don't apply for any jobs in florida or maryland or any other states that try to bs the system. NCLB is all well and good, but when are the feds gonna start denying money to colleges and universities with substandard teacher ed programs?
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