[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: No Child Left Behind

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
No Child Left Behind
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1188880264.shtml


   There was a big jump in underperforming schools just announced per the
   standardized testing implemented under the President's No Child Left
   Behind (NCLB) program. Frankly, I couldn't care less.
   Everything about NCLB makes sense, except that it's a Federal program.
   It tests for results (annual yearly progress), then warn, sanction,
   even close schools that don't pass.
   But what's the point? Too many of the factors leading to poor results
   are beyond the public schools' ability to change or mitigate. What's
   this, you ask, sympathy for Education Minnesota? No, I'm simply
   observing that our government run "public" schools simply are too
   entrenched to make the changes necessary, and that assumes that "one
   size fits all" education concept is still viable.
   Let's not kid ourselves. A number of schools will get themselves taken
   off the list by some re-figuring of the results or the underlying
   demographics. Some, maybe most, will openly teach the test, which
   isn't a totally bad idea given some of the creative alternatives in
   practice. Some will ignore the outcomes by no longer taking Title I
   funds.
   I hate to in effect raise our local taxes, but I think we'd be better
   off just saying no to NCLB, assuming we still can. Tell the Feds to
   keep their money: NCLB, Title I, all of it. Tell the school districts
   they no longer fill out all that paperwork. What they do with
   standardized testing is up to them from now on, pursuant to State law
   only.
   If nothing else, this would clear some of the fog of accountability,
   and get us a little closer to vouchers or some other mechanism
   providing true parental choice to deal with their children's poor
   report cards directly.