Want the simple solution? If your standards are better than the NCLB, simply petition Bush to use your standards instead of his. He will grant you the waiver and you can use your own standards.
As a product of Arizona public schools, I don’t think I was underserved (in 4 out of 5 schools) and the testing was done pretty frequently during a K-12 experience. (I remember because the tests were offered in Navajo as well as English and they would never let me take it in Navajo.)
There are undoubtedly some technical bureaucratic problems with NCLB for an already high producing state. But I’m very skeptical of the idea that somehow states are having to ‘dumb down’ anything to pass the tests from NCLB. Just like the entire ‘teach the test’ mantra from the teachers union mob is just a cop out since they weren’t teaching kids anything which COULD be tested.
Bad schools squeal like pigs when you demand testing but good schools would be looking for a chance to shine. The same would go for individual teachers and/or entire school systems.
It seems the problem isn't with the NCLB but with a state educational system dumbing down rather than raising up which NCLB seeks. To find the culprit ladies, look in the mirror!!
I am friends and acquaintances with several teachers from a very diverse range of ages and political leanings. Every single one of them thinks that NCLB is a piece of garbage.
I would like to see the federal gov’t OUT of local schools. I hope more states opt for this.
I will attest that my son’s school definitely TEACHES to the MCAS. We do not pressure him at all about this test, but the principal gets really worked up about it.
The math questions are ridiculous, they appear to be written by an English major NOT a mathemetician.
Government schools need to be entirely shut down! Government schools, First Amendment Right, and freedom of conscience can NOT co-exist.
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I wonder if the fact that Margaret Spellings lives in NoVa has anything to do with the reluctance? Her girls attend public schools in this area. (That fact was in the WaPo last year, so it's no secret I'm letting out of the bag)
I'm pinging this because of some of the interesting information about NCLB presented in the article.
It's good to see schools take a stand and raise their standards.