Equal Opportunity for Underserved Students
The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) forces all schools to provide top-quality education to students who are often underserved in the public education system, including children with disabilities, from low-income families and non-English speakers, as well as for all ethnicities.
For the first time in U.S. history, educational progress is tracked separately and required to be shown for each ethnic group in each school, rather than one average for an entire school.
Previously, in an attempt to evidence progress, schools could (and would) focus on increasing test scores or related data for a small, bright group of students in order to bring up the average... rather than ensuring that all students are given an equal opportunity at a world-class education.
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The ONLY thing Government knows how to do is throw money at a supposed problem. Our education system has problems, primarily driven by past Government interventions!
Until we get people who are dedicated to the cause of really educating our children , i.e. self-esteem is not a priority when it comes to a choice between learning and caring, then we might make real progress.
The ultimate responsiblity lies with the PARENTS, not some paper pusher 3,000 miles away who can only throw money at the problem.
Parents need to tell the school boards to throw out the liberal agenda and made standards mean something!!!
When I was young we had the "snails" and the "rabbits" for separating the abilities of students. It may not have helped those of little ability, the mentally limited and those with other problems, but it allowed those of average and outstanding ability to work with their peers to attain the ability to face problems of our society. We can't trade the work force positions of car washer with a brain surgeon. It is perhaps unfortunate, but we were not all endowed with the same capabilities. We need to educate every person to achieve their highest capability. The mentally handicapped need to be educated, but don't let them slow down our future geniuses. Dr. Steinmetz had a broken body, but was the person instrumental in showing Westinghouse the advantages of, and how to, use alternating current to provide the power used all over the world today. Mr. Edison wanted all direct current. We need to teach students to their abilities, not to the wishes of their parents, NCLB "dumbs down" our future.
Government is force.
It encourages states to dumb the tests down to increase the students' scores so the state can get more federal money. It's very useful as a military recruitment tool as well. I really don't think you even know what you're arguing for.