Did No Child Left Behind improve educational accountability and outcomes, or did its emphasis on standardized testing create unintended problems for schools, teachers, and students
I live in a state that ranks near the bottom nationally in teacher pay and among the bottom five in education outcomes. While I don't believe it would be fair to place all of the blame on No Child Left Behind (NCLB), I do think our current education system deserves serious examination.
I was discussing this with my daughter and sister today as the new school year begins. Three children in our family need aides to assist with varying learning disabilities. The necessary forms were completed last year, yet two of the three still haven't received the assistance they need. The explanation from the school district is simply that there aren't enough aides available.
My oldest grandson, who is in seventh grade, struggles significantly with basic spelling. For example, he recently wrote "moor" instead of "more." His handwriting is impossible to read it looks like a chicken assisted him, he can't read his own work. My second grandson, who is in second grade, has better handwriting but is still unable to read even basic words.
I don't believe it would be fair to place all of the responsibility on my daughter. She has worked hard as a single mother while working in fast food and attending trade school. Her circumstances improved considerably last year, and she is now purchasing additional learning materials for both boys and looking for tutors through a local college.
My sister is a stay-at-home mother, and her husband has a good income. They recently moved back to our home state from a state with significantly more education funding. Two of their younger children are currently waiting for evaluations, while their fourth-grade daughter also struggles with reading, although she has been making progress.
These are firsthand experiences from my own family, not simply things I've read online. At the same time, I recognize that individual experiences don't necessarily represent the entire education system. We've also all seen reports and discussions about students graduating high school without strong reading, writing, or other basic academic skills.
That raises a broader question for me: What should Congress prioritize when addressing education after the midterms? Should federal role in education increase/decrease? Should the Department of Education be reexamined or restructured? Should Congress revisit or replace policies associated with No Child Left Behind? Should there be greater accountability for educational outcomes while also providing schools with the funding, teachers, aides, and resources they need?
Regardless of political party, I think these are questions worth discussing seriously. The goal shouldn't simply be to assign blame. It should be to figure out what is working, what isn't, and what can realistically be done to ensure that children receive the education and support they need to succeed.