Is No Child Left Behind Doing Enough

One of the chief aims of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 was to transform the United States education system and close the significant education achievement gap that exists here. However, it is now just over six years since the act was signed into law and the jury is still out on whether it has really achieved that much when it comes to achieving equality in our schools, colleges and universities. In this article we take a closer look at No Child Left Behind (NCLB) to see what it has, or hasn't, achieved.

Basically, NCLB aims for higher achievements among children by rewarding schools if their teachers are trained to a certain standard. To receive federal funding a school's teachers must be 'highly qualified. That is, they much have at least a Bachelor's Degree, they must fulfill the state's certification requirements, and they must demonstrate expertise in what they teach.

NCLB also requires that the progress of schools is monitored by test results, if they are to receive federal funding. It also requires that schools use 'scientifically based research' when coming up with new ways to improve the performance of pupils and staff. This basically means that schools should take a systematic approach to any new strategies.

Overall, NCLB seems to have had some positive effects. National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results that achievement levels in reading and math are improving, and among certain age groups the education achievement gap in these subjects reached an all time low between students from certain ethnic backgrounds.

Some argue that the federal requirements and standards imposed by NCLB are an improvement on what local government was previously able to achieve. However, on the flip side there is a growing groundswell of opinion that taking the power away from individual states to shape educational reform is having a detrimental effect on the education achievement gap.

Overall, it seems that NCLB has done little to bridge education gap. And it is looking increasingly likely that changes to the No Child Left Behind Act will hand at least some power back to local government.

In truth, it would seem that the greatest achievements in closing the education gap have taken place at an even more local level - in communities and in schools. In situations where principals with strong management are running schools employing dedicated teachers, there are many examples where the education gap has been bridged. Success also requires good communication and agreement between educators, students and parents, something that can only be achieved at ground level.

 

Written by: Frank J Klein - CIO

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