Lawmakers to launch bipartisan effort to rewrite NCLB

[random3434]

It's about time.

In a joint statement, Reps. George Miller (D-Calif.), Dale E. Kildee (D-Mich.), John Kline (R-Minn.) and Michael N. Castle (R-Del.) pledged "a bipartisan, open and transparent effort to rewrite No Child Left Behind -- a law that we all agree is in need of major reform. It will start with a series of hearings in the coming weeks to explore the challenges and opportunities ahead as we work to ensure an excellent education is available to every student in America."

washingtonpost.com

 

[Big Black Dog]

Years ago, after my folks accidently left my brother and I at a grocery store, they started one of those no child left behind programs. It worked pretty well and they never forgot us again.

 

[jillian]

It's about time.

In a joint statement, Reps. George Miller (D-Calif.), Dale E. Kildee (D-Mich.), John Kline (R-Minn.) and Michael N. Castle (R-Del.) pledged "a bipartisan, open and transparent effort to rewrite No Child Left Behind -- a law that we all agree is in need of major reform. It will start with a series of hearings in the coming weeks to explore the challenges and opportunities ahead as we work to ensure an excellent education is available to every student in America."

washingtonpost.com

making it not be an unfunded mandate might be a good start.

 

[Dr.Traveler]

Most teachers I interact with as part of my job don't mind NCLB.... they get ticked off because it was an unfunded mandate.

If you want to impose standards, open the checkbook to give teachers the resources necessary to meet those standards.

 

[random3434]

Most teachers I interact with as part of my job don't mind NCLB.... they get ticked off because it was an unfunded mandate.

If you want to impose standards, open the checkbook to give teachers the resources necessary to meet those standards.

That is a start, but also changes need to be made on some of the unrealistic requirements they demand. Such as, expecting students with IQ's as low as 55 to pass the same standardized state test as their general ed peers. NCLB has a goal in the plan of ALL students passing their state tests by 2014-100%. Impossible for many special needs students, who BY LAW have to take the test.

 

[FireGod]

Ok so can someone tell me how the Federal Government got into the business of education and cite Constitutional or SCOTUS for this?

On the assumption that NCLB is within Constitutional bounds (does this not fall into the realm socialism anyway) the question becomes what is wrong with it currently? From what I have heard, my own experience with my kidlets and logic the following errors seem to be common:
Teaching to the test instead of actually teaching the concepts and principles involved.
The fact that one MUST color a circle in the little line with a #2 pencil. Those things fracking hurt after a while
The ability of individualized instruction is lessened.
The tests not taking into account the improvement of the student. IE you do not pass this test you do not pass the grade (it does not matter the amount of work that you did to get to this point).
An stress that is totally out of place in young lives. I am sorry but life is full of stress and the fact that we expect our kids to have even more stress on top of what is natural? Come on.
Instructors being held accountable for TEACHING ONLY instead of fund drives, PTA membership etc. (admittedly not related to NCLB).
Finally the most important lesson that I see is a fail.
CRITICAL THINKING there is a serious lack of it. Students are not allowed to defend themselves from other students, instead are expected to run to a teacher or whatever. Now while that is all well and good I prefer that one should try negotiation first. Then up the ante if that does not work. God forbid if you (student) disagree with what a teacher is teaching. Often times that is an automatic out for a student in elementary and middle school.

Now all that said I have nothing but the utmost respect for the people who make it their mission to educate our young. I sure could not do it.

The best answers to be had on this thread IMO are the ones that come from our teachers.