Have We Left Anyone Behind?

1. Sara Colwell, Ben VanMetre, Sarah Warzecha Beloit College Abstract: In January, 2002 President George Bush passed the No Child Left Behind Act, which was meant to monitor, control and increase the performance of students in grades K-12. Although this act was originally met with support, Bush’s attempt to reauthorize it in 2007 was greeted with much more upheaval. Over the past 5 years, students have scored progressively higher on standardized tests, while reading and math are at an all time high. However, groups like the National Education Association are opposed to the strict standards and regulations the NCLB act imposes upon teachers and students. Both the National Education Association and the Presidency strive for improved education for the nation’s youth and for larger governmental funding. Therefore, to better appease both positions, a new plan could be proposed by congress that caters to everyone’s interests. Negotiators: Objective Criteria: Have We Left Anyone Behind? Pro: Department of Education Con: National Education Association Mediator: Congressional Committee via Ted Kennedy -Scores based on fair tests -Graduation Drop out rates -College Enrollment rates -Percentage of students taking honors or advanced classes Options: • -The act could be renewed in its original form on the reauthorization date. • -Within the renewed act, there could be a deadline for the delivery of promised funding. • In order to attract better qualified teachers to poorer performing schools, the government could set aside a specific amount of funding which would raise the salary for these specific teachers. However, because salary would be raised, the certification standards to which the educators are hired will be raised significantly, ensuring a higher quality of teachers. • The academic standards to which schools are held accountable could be broadened to include other subjects than simply reading and math, while also developing different ways to measure the success of these subjects. In turn, this will provide a more rounded education for students. • - The act could still be enforced, but could allow states to separately allocate funding how they deem most appropriate. Introduction: The education system in the United States is one that has been making severe changes over the past 20 years. One of the first steps to improve the nation’s educational system was made by President Ronald Reagan, who assembled the National Commission on Excellence and Education (NCEE). This committee reported which that the American educational system was producing sub-standard statistical results. This act and many others like it set the stage for the approval of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) passed in January of 2002. The NCLB act is an education program that seeks an increase in federal funding to individual states by approximately 25% from the previous year. This increase in federal funding requires that all states meet a strict series rules, regulations, statistical standards. These regulations include a documented increase in standardized test scores for reading and math. Schools will now be held responsible for the performance of their students and their teachers. If a school does not meet these specific standards they will be punished by the possible loss of teachers, loss of funding, or even in severe cases a closing of the school. However, if a school does meet the standards posed by the United States government the increased funding will continue and nation’s youth will receive a more through education. In President George W. Bush’s 2007 state of the union address he announced his intentions to reauthorize the NCLB act. Although the original NCLB was passed with overwhelming congressional support, the reauthorization of this act has a much higher level of controversy. Groups such as the National Education Association believe that there needs to be many changes made to the current act before the NVLB is reauthorized. The bush administration believes that if changes are made to the NCLB act we would be leaving students at their former status quo and will have failed them for many decades to come. It is up to congress to mediate between both sides and hopefully reach a reasonable agreement before the reauthorization date of the NCLB act. Interests: - Both parties strive for a more effective educational plan concerning the nation’s youth. - Both parties agree that the basis of an effective plan includes high standards and accountability for the learning of all students. - The National Education Association wants the No Child Left Behind act to provide more flexibility for schools in order to reach the standards proposed by the Department of Education - The Department of Education hopes to continue to use the methods being practiced in the original NCLB act, as they hold that these programs have been proven effective through scientific research. - The National Education Association also wants adequate so that education can be improved. - The Department of Education wants to increase the options for parents whose children are stuck in an under-performing or under-funded school. REFERENCES -www.whitehouse.gov -www.ed.gov -www.motherjones.com www.nea.org