Has No Child Left Behind Improved Public Education?

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  “Qualified Teachers for All Students, Not Just the Affluent”

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Qualified Teachers for All Students, Not Just the Affluent

Deborah White

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The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) resulted in all public school students, not just those in affluent or well-funded school districts, to be taught by well-qualified, competent teachers.

This rule is needed as one of many tools to combat the reality of low-income and minority students scoring significantly below more affluent whites on tests, high school graduation rates and college attendance.

As National Public Radio reporter Larry Abramson explained in a November 22, 2006 report, "In high-poverty and high-minority schools -- where students are likely to be the most in need of an experienced teacher -- they're the least likely to get one."

This newly-mandated equal access to highly qualified teachers occurred because NCLB set minimum standards of education and experience for teachers at every U.S. school, which includes:

• a bachelor's degree
• full state certification, credentialing or other licensure
• periodic demonstration of continued competency

NCLB also requires that every state:

• measure the extent to which all students have highly qualified teachers, particularly minority and disadvantaged students
• implement plans to ensure all teachers are highly qualified
• publicly report plans and measure progress in meeting teacher quality goals.

 

Evidence

Link

U.S. Department of Education - Highly Qualified Teachers

Next Argument

"Every Child Deserves a Chance" Deborah White

• Equal Opportunity for Underserved Students
  1
• Qualified Teachers for All Students, Not Just the Affluent
  1
• Focus on the Basics, No Pressure on Peripherals
  2

"One Size Doesn't Fit All" National Education Association

• NCLB Remains Fundamentally Flawed and Severely Underfunded
  1
• NCLB has Failed Its Fundamental Purpose
  0
• Federal Gov't Should Support - Not Manage - Communities
  1
• A Vote for Educational Change
  0

"NCLB Degrades Education" BAMN

• NCLB Degrades Education, Intensifes Racial Inequalities
  1
• NCLB Diverts Funds from Public Education to the Test Prep Industry
  3
• NCLB Reduces Education to Rote Test Prep for Minority Students
  0
• NCLB Does Nothing to Close the Achievement Gap
  1
• We Need Real Solution to the Crisis of Public Education - NOT NCLB
  0

"NCLB is Good in "Principle" " California Federation of Teachers

• NCLB Fails to Live Up To Its Principles
  0
• NCLB Has Been Ineffective in Achieving Its Intended Goals
  0
• NCLB Assumes That More Accountability Will Solve Societal Problems
  0
• Attention and Resources Should Focus on Improving the Whole School
  1

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Has No Child Left Behind Improved Public Education?

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