No Child Left Behind Overhaul: Five Key Things That Would Change

[one...two...tree 2,762]

by: Judy Nichols Douglass | The Christian Science Monitor

On Saturday, the Obama administration released its blueprint for overhauling the 2002 No Child Left Behind Act. US lawmakers are to consider the blueprint – and make their own revisions – as part of a reauthorization process for the education law.

Although the administration's proposals would change many things about No Child Left Behind, one central component would remain: annual tests in reading and math for students.

On the other hand, one component that is likely to go away is the very name "No Child Left Behind." Administration officials have indicated that the law should take on a new name, though this point wasn't brought out in the blueprint.

Beyond the likely name revision, here are five key changes that the Obama administration is proposing:

The goal of student proficiency in reading and math by 2014 would change to a standard of "college and career readiness" for students by 2020. As 2014 has approached, it's become clear that the proficiency goal won't be reached in that time frame. With the new goal, administration officials are focusing less on grade-level attainment and more on the skills that students will need for school or work after high school.

In a development related to this goal, the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and the National Governors Association (NGA) have drafted a set of "common core" academic standards for US students.

• Although reading and math tests would remain in the administration's proposal, schools could also include student performance in other subjects as part of overall measurements of progress. Critics say that the current education law has narrowed the curriculum for students: Many teachers zero in on math and reading at the expense of other subjects to help students prepare for the required tests.

Now, administration officials are encouraging a broader outlook. "Students need a well-rounded education," the blueprint declares, and it cites disciplines including history, civics, foreign languages, and the arts.

• Evaluations of schools would shift, being less punitive and offering more rewards. A common complaint of No Child Left Behind is that it labels too many schools as simply failing. The new proposal sets forth a multitiered system: One tier would identify the 5 percent of schools struggling the most in each state, while other tiers would apply to schools facing less-severe challenges. Different remedies are outlined for different tiers in the blueprint.

And the proposal outlines opportunities for rewards. "The schools, districts, and states that are successful in reaching performance targets ... will be recognized," the blueprint reads. "Rewards may include financial rewards for the staff and students ...."

• More federal funding would be switched from formula-based allocations to competitive grants. The new system would build on the Obama administration's Race to the Top program, which has offered stimulus money to states that both apply for the education funds in a competition and demonstrate a reform-oriented approach. That setup has encouraged states to adopt more reforms promoted by the US Education Department.

The Obama administration's budget for 2011 would increase competitive funding by $3 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal.

• Schools that miss certain targets would not be required by the federal government to provide students with tutoring or with the option to transfer. Education Secretary Arne Duncan has objected to such requirements in No Child Left Behind, according to Education Week.

But this proposed change could meet with resistance from Congress, especially Republicans. Education Week quotes Alexa Marrero, a spokeswoman for Rep. John Kline of Minnesota, the top Republican on the House Education and Labor Committee: "It's disappointing to see [tutoring] and school choice removed from the parental toolbox, particularly because it appears the focus is shifting to the needs of schools rather than the needs of students."

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Mr. Kline would know about the needs of the schools vs. the needs of the students there in Minnesota. Teacher's Unions there literally hold the state hostage sometimes when in the end because of the rule of law, the unions will always win...

Either way, NCLB is a stupid policy and people need to realize that not every individual is the same, nor can they learn the same way. Also the whole focus on reading/math is ridiculous and the administration is right in wanting to push a more well-rounded education.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

So, they are going to gut the program, because teachers do not want to be responsible for the students they teach? Reading and arithmetic don't count as much as "social awareness"? Typical. Just typical of what is happening to America.

[lucyrich 20]

I'm glad they're at least changing the name. Another way of saying "No child left behind" is "No child gets to go faster than the slowest student in the class". I'd rather have a program based on the idea of "Each child to his full potential", and if that lets a few children get behind the crowd and a few ahead of the crowd, so be it.

But I think the label is the least of the problems, at any rate.

Testing is OK, but by itself it's not the solution. You don't solve the education problem by testing, any more than you declare the nation's obesity problem solved by merely weighing everyone frequently and precisely so that everybody knows just how obese they are or aren't.

What's actually needed it some time spent teaching, and some teachers who actually interest and inspire their students. A student who is engaged, interested and inspired does better than one who is bored and frustrated. And the difference isn't just a few percentage points at the margins, it's HUGE.

Time to get rid of the teachers who bore their students, and then increase teacher pay and status so that a few of the best and brightest people from the community are motivated to become teachers.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I'm glad they're at least changing the name. Another way of saying "No child left behind" is "No child gets to go faster than the slowest student in the class". I'd rather have a program based on the idea of "Each child to his full potential", and if that lets a few children get behind the crowd and a few ahead of the crowd, so be it.

But I think the label is the least of the problems, at any rate.

Testing is OK, but by itself it's not the solution. You don't solve the education problem by testing, any more than you declare the nation's obesity problem solved by merely weighing everyone frequently and precisely so that everybody knows just how obese they are or aren't.

What's actually needed it some time spent teaching, and some teachers who actually interest and inspire their students. A student who is engaged, interested and inspired does better than one who is bored and frustrated. And the difference isn't just a few percentage points at the margins, it's HUGE.

Time to get rid of the teachers who bore their students, and then increase teacher pay and status so that a few of the best and brightest people from the community are motivated to become teachers.

[Ali G. 37]

Mr. Kline would know about the needs of the schools vs. the needs of the students there in Minnesota. Teacher's Unions there literally hold the state hostage sometimes when in the end because of the rule of law, the unions will always win...

Not to sure about Minnesota but over here in Virginia, the school board gets to call the shots. The unions have no say in the curriculum.

[Ali G. 37]

What's actually needed it some time spent teaching, and some teachers who actually interest and inspire their students. A student who is engaged, interested and inspired does better than one who is bored and frustrated. And the difference isn't just a few percentage points at the margins, it's HUGE.

Time to get rid of the teachers who bore their students, and then increase teacher pay and status so that a few of the best and brightest people from the community are motivated to become teachers.

A number of good teachers are worn out, with others simply not paid enough to deal with society's BS, thus quit. We pay peanuts yet expect to keep the best and the brightest. It's not going to happen.

Just the other day I hear of an incident in a middle school where a student literally slaps a teacher, teacher has enough and slaps back. One guess who gets fired and the assault charge. Another guess who gets to walk away and laugh it off with his buddies - and their parents support. Had I assaulted a teacher, I'd pray they arrest me rather than return home and have to tell my dad.

So, they are going to gut the program, because teachers do not want to be responsible for the students they teach? Reading and arithmetic don't count as much as "social awareness"? Typical. Just typical of what is happening to America.

Well you had testing for over six years now yet are still falling down the ranks. Teaching to the test is not how you produce the next generation of learners or earners.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Uncle Teddy must be rolling in his grave.