NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND

Jill Daignault

ED 613

Unit III Assignment

NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND (NCLB)

NCLB 2001 was signed into law by President George W. Bush on January 8, 2012

MAJOR PHILOSOPHICAL RATIONALE

NCLB is a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Act of 1965 (Education Week, 2004).

NCLB is an act “To close the achievement gap with accountability, flexibility, and choice, so that no child is left behind” (NCLB, 2001).

It was intended for all students to have an equal opportunity to achieve academically and to have states and schools be held accountable for their student’s progress.

RATIONALE CONTINUEDMain Points of NCLB Annual Testing

• Testing of students in reading, math, and science in accordance with national standards.

Academic Progress• Schools must show adequate yearly progress

(AYP)• If a Title I school and does not make AYP in two

years it receives assistance and students are allowed to choose another school to attend

• If AYP is not met after three years are given supplemental educational services (SES)

(Education Weekly, 2004)

RATIONALE CONTINUEDMain Points continued: Report Cards

• Schools and School Districts are required to provide report cards providing disaggregated data

Teacher Qualifications• All teachers must become “highly

qualified” in their subject area in accordance with set requirements

Reading First• Scientific, research-based reading for

grades K-3 Funding Changes

• Funding to was to be given to schools to assist in the necessary resources for academic achievement

(Education Weekly, 2004)

NCLB – FEDERAL LEVEL Public opinion poll in 2003 of school

superintendents and principals showed that they felt that NCLB was politically motivated or aimed at undermining public schools

Polls shows that people feel that the law disproportionately penalizes schools with diverse student populations

2010 – 38% of schools did not make AYP Currently Congress is in the process of

reauthorizing the NCLB Act of 2001, but cannot agree on the shape of the version of the new law.

(Education Week, 2004)

NCLB – STATE LEVEL

States set their own benchmarks

States required to test annually in math, reading and science

Requires all teachers to be “highly qualified”

States required to be 100% proficient (meet AYP) by 2013-2014

NCLB – LOCAL LEVEL Supports learning in the early years Provides more information for parents regarding

their child’s progress Alerts parents to important academic performance Improves teaching and learning by providing better

information to teachers and administrators Ensures that teacher quality is a high priority Gives more resources to schools Allows more flexibility Focuses on what works

(U.S. Dept. of Ed, 2005)

NCLB AND THE MN WAIVER

U.S. Department of Education allowed states to request more flexibility regarding the 100% proficiency requirement of NCLB Schools must prove a rigorous school improvement

plan that shows a close in achievement gaps, better equality among students, and improve quality of teacher instruction

MN submitted a waiver which was approved on February 9, 2012

MN Schools will have to show improvement in math and reading, but also in individual students

Priority schools must submit plans on how they plan to close the achievement gap among their students.

(Star Tribune, 2012)

PERSONAL OPINION NCLB

I believe that the philosophy and vision of NCLB is good and holds schools accountable for their students and teachers.

Requiring students to meet set standards and have high expectations is a positive thing in addition to ensuring that teachers are highly qualified.

I do not agree with the collection of data from the tests and the diversity among the student population is not accurately represented and skews test results

I feel that there is not adequate resources for schools, administrators, or teachers to help them reach AYP

MN Waiver I like how the U.S. Dept of Ed is

allowing states flexibility in reaching the 100% proficiency required by 2013-2014.

I agree with those who do not support the waiver – showing student growth is not good enough, students must still meet the standards required.

If we as educators give students lower standards we are setting them and the schools up for failure and again will be unable to compete with foreign countries.

Setting high standards for students is a good thing as it forces students to strive for excellence.

PERSONAL OPINION

REFERENCESEducation Week. (2004). No Child Left Behind. Retrieved July 4,

2012, from http://www.edweek.org/ew/issues/no-child-left-behind/

McGuire, Kim. (2012). Minnesota Freed from ‘No Child Left Behind’ sanctions. Star Tribune. Retrieved July 7, 2012, from http://www.startribune.com/local/139062899.html

U.S. Department of Education. (2005). Introduction: No Child Left Behind: Archived Information. Retrieved July 6, 2012, from http://www2.ed.gov/nclb/overview/intro/index.html

U.S. Department of Education. (2001). NCLB Legislation. No Child Left Behind. Retrieved July 3, 2012, from http://www2.ed.gov/nclb/landing.jhtml?src=ln