About K-12 Educational Reforms + no child left behind

No Child Left Behind is a piece of legislation that was crafted and accepted in 2001 during the presidency of George W. Bush. While the rest of this president’s term left much to be desired for many, at least he got the K-12 educational reform idea down on the books. Even if it doesn’t work exactly the way it is meant to (but then again, what law ever does?).

The Rules of No Child Left Behind

Bush decided that schools needed to become more accountable for the education of those children in grades K-12. With the No Child Left Behind Act, schools were now going to be held responsible for making sure children were educated properly and that schools were doing all they could to ensure education was not left behind. By telling schools they would not get the funding they needed unless they followed certain rules, the No Child Left Behind Act certainly got everyone’s attention.

Schools have to:

• Improve test scores
• Increase their accountability
• Set higher local standards
• Allow children who are in a school that is failing the option to transfer
• Create the same educational experiences for all minorities

With all of these guidelines, it seems that No Child Left Behind of 2001 is set to succeed.

But Some People Don’t Agree

Even aside from the other policies of Bush, No Child Left Behind isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. Some of the arguments against it include:

• Schools have found ways around the system
• Standardized tests aren’t all that standardized
• Those who perform well don’t get rewarded
• Some subjects are left behind

So, yes, No Child Left Behind is a good start, but it is not the only way to make sure that education improves. In fact, it could be seen as a prelude to something bigger and better for the educational system. Obama? Are you listening?