No Child Left Behind Act

By Amy Clark

In 2001, the federal government made another attempt to have an active role in elementary and secondary education by passing the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).

The act emphasizes accountability in education, and this includes accountability from students, teachers, and administrators. NCLB also federal aid available for schools who meet academic standards, who also abide by policies set by the government. This plan appears like it could work, but when looking at the policies and required standards, the NCLB act is more of a hindrance than it is helpful.

For example, by the year 2014, every child in public schools must achieve grade-level proficiency in reading, math and science. Each school will be required to give annual tests to show progress, and every child must be producing a C or better in math, English and science in order to meet the requirements.

The standards and golas of the NCLB are difficult and nearly impossible to make. Not only does the entire student body have to demonstrate progress, but the law also stipulates that minority groups (such as children in poverty, special education and learning disabled students) must make the same progress as the rest of the student body.

Consequences for not meeting the standards are crippling. If the school is unable to achieve the goals set forth by the NCLB act, the entire school is then officially labeled a "failure" according to the standards set forth in the act. If the school fails to meet standards for two consecutive years, then the school faces the threat of termination of its teachers.

The new law has strict guidelines to ensure that each teacher is fully qualified to teach his or her subject area. This is not a lot to ask for, but given how much teachers do for students already, it is difficult to require or expect them to be able to adequately work with students who aren't learning as fast as the others, as well as challenge the students who are ahead of the learning curve.

Lauren Field, and Eastern Michigan University (EMU) junior, is an elementary education major and genuinely worries about the new system.

"I work with children now, and I intend to do so once I actually start my career," Field stated. "I know that each child needs to learn equally, but there is no way for them to all do it at the same pace. It is horrible to put pressure on children that are already having such a hard time."

At the surface level, the NCLB goal is a good one. The act simply states that it wants children get the education they deserve, and wants to hold people responsible if they don't. However, the specifics, rules, and regulations are harsh consequences for un-met goals, and only going to make the situation worse.

Therefore, with these concerns in mind, it hoped that the NCLB will be able to deliver on its stated goals, without creating more problems than it is solving.