The Problems With No Child Left Behind (Nclb)
For most Americans finding in from the surface at communal education, there is a lot of disgust. The knee jerk reaction has been to criticize communal school standards, or teachers themselves. In 2002, largely in response to this, President George W. Bush signed into law, in collaboration with Senator Ted Kennedy, the No Child Left Behind Act. The major stated goal of this agenda is that 100% of students over the nation will be proficient in reading and math by 2014. Each year, every year Measurable Objectives (Amos) are set by each state in math and reading by grade-level. A School's every year every year develop (Ayp) is met when all subgroups and all grade levels meet their Amos. In Maryland, the Amo for reading in fifth grade was 71.8% and 69.1% in math. Amos incrementally increases annually until every pupil is required to score proficient or developed in math and reading in 2014. States are forced to disaggregate data into nine subgroups for evaluation. Each subgroup in each grade level must meet the Amos or the entire school fails to meet Ayp. For beginners, there are five major problems with Nclb.
The Problems With No Child Left Behind (Nclb)
First, the idea that 100% of a school's people will pass reading and math standards is like mandating world peace by 2014. We all know that there are many elements that play into the success of a child. Students spend almost 90% of their lives surface of school in their K-12 years. 10% cannot compete with the influences of 90%. That is why house and society are so important. Nclb is fundamentally flawed because of this. What happens in 2014 when not one communal school in the nation meets the standard?
Next, a school's develop is not measured as a whole pupil body, but broken into subgroups. Each subgroup must meet their Amos. English Language Learners (Ell), special Education, etc., all must meet Amo in order for the school to meet Ayp. Here is the problem. Let's say you are in a school with three Ell students in the fourth grade. If one fails to pass, then Ayp is not met because that subgroup is only at 67% passing. One pupil throws the entire school into chaos. Now apply this logic to special education students. Here we have students who have documented disabilities. They must pass as a subgroup as well in each grade level.
Third, states are free to form their own assessments. Yes, In Maryland, we use the Maryland State estimation (Msa). Florida and Virginia form their own tests. Therefore, there is assuredly no way to compare the educational programs of one state with another. This is basic data manipulation. One state claims success, but the reality is they are assessing on different levels. Their students could assuredly be doing worse if a valid comparison is used.
Fourth, getting back to subgroups, each state gets to determine how many members of a particular subgroup are primary to count the results. This is called the N-Value. In Maryland, this mystical amount is five. In Maryland communal schools, if any subgroup has more five or more students, then that subgroup is counted. So, let's say one school has four Esl students and all four fail to pass. Well, it doesn't matter, the subgroup is too small to count and those students are left behind. Here's the problem, states get to determine what their N-Value will be. Maryland has the bottom N-Value, which means they are counting just about all of their students. The next top N-Value is 15, and Virginia's is 70! Basically, Virginia is not counting their students who would reflect poorly on their communal school system. There is again no validity and how states meet Nclb requirements.
Finally, Nclb is not fully funded. Basically, the federal government is telling all communal school systems what standards they have to meet, but providing no retain in achieving it. They can talk the talk, but not walk the walk.
Now, if you are thinking...thanks Mr. President, you failed again; then you need to know that Nclb is nothing more than an postponement and modification of the Elementary and Secondary education Act originally adopted in 1965. Nclb is not new; it just has a new name. And guess what? Barrack Obama is likely to reauthorize it again with a new name and a few more modifications. In fact, he might not even convert the name. After all, this is the brainchild of Senator Ted Kennedy as much as George W. Bush.
That aside, I don't believe the law should be scrapped. There are a lot of legitimate problems with Nclb, as I have just outlined. But there is also a lot of unsupported comment floating around. Despite its problems, schools have greatly improved over the country. The sense of responsibility does exist in the nation's communal school systems where it did not before. President Barrack Obama needs to regain experts in the field of education to work out the kinks. However, it's never going to be perfect because there is no perfect solution. There will always be students, for a variety of reasons, which will not meet math and reading standards. Plainly addition the rigor of graduation requirements does not solve that problem, even though it feels good to demand. Some kids just don't have what it takes. But I tell you what; there is nothing more primary to Americans than a trustable auto mechanic, contractor, landscaper, etc. But, it is political suicide for anything in any type of position of power to say so. So instead, we have mandated that no child will be left behind by 2014.
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