No Child Left Behind: Left Behind?

It has been one of President Bush's proudest accomplishments in the domestic policy arena, but the No Child Left Behind law that overhauled the federal government's approach to education nearly seven years ago is limping along these days.

It has itself been left behind in the presidential campaign debate.

The administration long ago gave up on winning reauthorization of the law this year -- a process that stalled in an election year under pressure from education experts pushing for major changes. Instead, the law will continue, as written, unchanged since Bush signed it in 2002.

And neither Barack Obama nor John McCain has focused significantly on the law itself or on education in general as they seek the presidency -- certainly not to the extent that Bush did in 2000.

Nevertheless, Education Secretary Margaret Spellings is plugging away, trying to maintain support for the central element of the law: the requirement that states and schools show that students have achieved grade-level proficiency in reading and math.

"We must resist pressure to weaken or water down accountability," she said at an education summit run by the nonpartisan Aspen Institute, the Washington Post reports today.

-- James Gerstenzang

Photo: Ken Cedeno / Bloomberg News

Comments

[Peter]

This has to be the biggest irony of all time. The people that Republicans appeal to are the very people who've been "left behind". Republicans make up two groups, the uneducated and a few of the wealthiest people in America. The wealthy Republicans are puppet masters who use the uneducated to fuel their greed and expand their wealth. Their rhetoric sounds great on paper but it doesn't do anything to help the uneducated- It just sounds great. Low taxes and less governement. Meanwhile the stupid people get dumber and poorer and the richest 1% of republicans get richer. IF ONLY WE COULD MAKE IT SO THAT NO CHILD GETS LEFT BEHIND.
To give you an example of how stupid most of the people in this country are, think about this. One definition of insanity is: to continue doing the same thing and expecting different results. Half the country wants to vote another war mongering Republican into office even though they believe the country is on the wrong track.
Republicans don't care about this country. If it was "country first" then somebody would have spoken up when Bush doubled the national debt and stood by while the greediest people on earth raped and pillaged on Wall Street. Can we outlaw Republicans in California?

[An American First]

First, I am an American. And then, I am a Republican. With that said, it does not mean I am wealthy or stupid. And it certainly does not mean that I should be "outlawed" in California. Your statement tells me scores about most Democrat's need for mind control. Your comment echoes throughout the Democratic party, telling us that unless everyone agrees with Democratic thoughts, opinions, and beliefs - they should be banned (or as you put it, "outlawed") shows such hostility towards anyone that does not agree, reminding me of communism. Being a Republican, means I have a set of beliefs that differ from yours, Peter. Being a Republican, I believe Americans should live in the way that our forefathers would be proud. And that is, to fight for independence, instead of becoming dependant. It means that when the going get tough, get up and do something! Finally, it means that if you do not agree with the opinions of another person, learn to respect the differences instead of demanding one universal view. And in regards to NCLB, I work in that program for The Florida Department of Education. I see first hand the benefits, as well as, some changes that need to take place. So, I can say that your uneducated comments on that subject should embarrass you. Please read our Constitution, I think it may serve you well. And while you are at it, pay closer attention to WORLD news. This may help you understand why some government policies of "war mongers" are made.

[Larry]

LETS BE HONEST ABOUT THE REAL REASON FOR THE NCLB PROGRAM. IT HAS LITTLE TO DO WITH EDUCATION AND MORE TO DO ABOUT BUSINESS GAINING CONTOL OF THE SCHOLS. FOR MANY YEARS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS TRIED TO UNDERMINE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AS THEY OFTEN SAY, 'FOLLOW THE MONEY!' WHO IS MAKING MONEY ON THE NCLB.? FIRST CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE BEING OPERATED BY BUSINESS CORPORATION. THE NET RESULT THE CHARTER SCHOOLS HAVE FAILED. JUST ASK THE PEOPLE IN BALITMORE, MD. ABOUT BUSINESS OPERATING THEIR SCHOOLS. NEXT ARE THE TESTING COMPANIES. TEXAS GAINS THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF MONEY ON TEST PRODUCTION. IN'T IT INTERESTING THAT TEXAS HAS GAINED THIS FINANCIAL PROCUREMENT? WE ARE NOW SPENDING OVER ONE BILLION DOLLARS ON TESTS. HAVE OUR SCHOOLS IMPROVED SINCE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TESTING CRAZE??? ANOTHER BUSH LEGACY..NCLB.
LARRY

[SLBushway]

It's amazing how those who claim to be American first act the least American. AF you did the same thing that Peter did - the only difference is that you padded your response with a list of qualifications in an attempt to make your point more valid. OK genius - you're right - the no child left behind act has resulted in higher test scores - but how is that helping us? Has this law resulted in an increase in students seeking higher education - no. Has it resulted in arming our students with the kinds or resources they need to secure our future? To help repair our failing infrastructure? To design and/or implement new and more advance technologies? No, what this law has done is make sure kids pass tests so schools get funding. It has done nothing to produce and or prepare the kinds of minds we need to see our way to Mars, to preserve our natural resources, to lesson our impact on global warming or to reduce our dependence on foreign. When I learned to read a ruler in middle school I was not just taught enough to pass a test - I was given opportunities for practical application. The same when I was taught to drive. We went on nature hikes, discussed current events, learned about agriculture by spending time on a farm. Not all of us would have been able to pass a test because well, some people just have issues with tests, but I know many a student who got a taste of what would end up being a career. The no child left behind act though guised as a tool to advance the standard of education in this country it has accomplished the exact opposite as it has removed the whole concept of preparing kids for what we need today.
As for being Republican Vs a Democrat - the two are the same - motivated by nothing other than self-interests. The rare individual is the person that rises above it all and that’s rare on both sides. As an educator if you think that all Dems are one thing and Republicans are another or more moral - I'm glad you're not my area. We're in the situation we are with 3/4 of the world's country hating us or distrusting us because of the predominant GOP mind-set - "if you're not with us you're against us" - whether right or wrong. You write with a great deal of arrogance and I'm sure you walked away patting yourself on the back - but in the end you didn't do your side justice but merely reinforced the feeling many of us have not on your side.

[American First]

Dear SLBushway,
It is sad that now, in this politically correct world we are living in, that the truth seems to qualify as arrogance. And your, "It's amazing how those who claim to be American first act the least American" comment, shocks me since I was replying to a reader that stated that I should be "outlawed" in California due to my views as a Republican. The view that I was trying to extend in my post, was that we can all be Americans and still have a difference of opinion. Read my post again, maybe you'll catch onto that point. (That sentence, you may qualify as arrogance) FYI - belonging to a particular party does not automatically mean that I am blindly "following the leader". It simply means that I stand more prominately in a political direction. I don't understand what it is about my post that caused you to believe I have a "if you aren't with us, you are against us" philosophy. Put a Democrat on the ticket that I can believe in and share common goals for this country and I'll vote for him/her. As for the NCLB - I'm not trying to shove that down anyone's throat. All I ask is that you truly investigate your facts instead of just repeating rhetoric.

[Nick]

"As an educator if you think that all Dems are one thing and Republicans are another or more moral - I'm glad you're not in my area."
Dude, I don't remember reading that in AF's post.
-Nick

[Peter]

I welcome opposing view points and believe they are neccessary for healthy analysis and I used to be a Republican until GW Bush. I am just so thoroughly disgusted by the fact that 1/2 the country wants to vote to continue the blatently failed policies of the Republican Party. Do you not see that our country(the one you love) is in dire straights? Our credibility across the globe is at an ALL TIME low. The economy is the worst since the Great Depression. Our debt has DOUBLED in the last 8 years. Everybody in the world is holding their breath for regime change in Washington. Voting for more of the same is not what I call "Country First". It sounds like "My Team First" -"GOP First". This isn't a "game"!! And when you look at how stupid/insane voting for the GOP ticket is at this particular moment in time and you realize that 1/2 the country is that stupid.......you lose faith and then you kind of give up and now I just want to be left alone. Please, Montana is beautiful this time of year....just please, go away.

[Louie]

AF
The opinion of one person who states they are a Domocrat, equates to what you stated how?
Your statement tells me scores about most Democrat's need for mind control. Your comment echoes throughout the Democratic party, telling us that unless everyone agrees with Democratic thoughts, opinions, and beliefs - they should be banned (or as you put it, "outlawed") shows such hostility towards anyone that does not agree,

Hack!

[American First]

Louie,
Seriously? I clearly said that his comment "echos" throughout the party. That would imply that I am not creating an opinion based soley on one person's comment.

Peter,
I get it. Really, I do. I am frustrated as well. Change, we need. During all of these posts I never once stated that I was voting Republican this year. As a matter of fact, I stated that if given the opportunity to vote Democratic (given that I agreed with the candidate) I would.
For example-
FYI - belonging to a particular party does not automatically mean that I am blindly "following the leader".
OR-
Put a Democrat on the ticket that I can believe in and share common goals for this country and I'll vote for him/her.
And Last-
Being a Republican, means I have a set of beliefs that differ from yours, Peter. Being a Republican, I believe Americans should live in the way that our forefathers would be proud. And that is, to fight for independence, instead of becoming dependant. It means that when the going get tough, get up and do something! Finally, it means that if you do not agree with the opinions of another person, learn to respect the differences instead of demanding one universal view.

I feel that when a majority of Democratics hear there's a Republican in the house, it sends shockwaves of lunicy. I really understand that something is not right here. That is why I started my post, American First. Because, even though I have a conservative view - it does not mean I agree with what is happening in our America today. I happen to agree with SLBushway when he said, As for being Republican Vs a Democrat - the two are the same - motivated by nothing other than self-interests. Although I believe that does not apply the the whole of the parties, like the everyday working American. I do believe it applies to Washington, D.C.

This has been my whole point of this discussion. I do think that people can have different opinions. I also think that if most of my views are conservative, it means I am a Republican. But does this mean that I can not move beyond my party to vote for other changes that I see need to be made? The word Republican seems to make people foam at the mouth. No one heard a word that I said, except Republican. That scares me.

By the way, I am thinking of a move to California. I hear it's nice all times of the year:)