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NCLB: The Next Generation


Is more test-and-punish in your future?


By Alain Jehlen


Dan Wasserman, The Boston Globe

More focus on standardized test scores and new ways to punish educators. That’s what the Obama Administration has proposed in a “Blueprint” for revising No Child Left Behind (NCLB). Firing entire staffs over low test scores, as happened in Rhode Island and other states, is one of the strategies endorsed by the Blueprint.

Meanwhile, NEA has sent Congress its own set of recommendations, calling for fewer standardized tests and more proven strategies to help struggling schools. (Click on the video at right to see an excerpt from President Van Roekel's testimony to Congress. NEA and its affiliates have also developed a Priority Schools Campaign for some of the most challenging schools.)

NCLB is the current incarnation of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which is overdue to be rewritten and renamed. The Administration wants Congress to take action by August.

NEA supports the goals and some elements of the Administration’s Blueprint. Two examples: The Blueprint says schools should get credit for improvement, even if students don’t yet meet standards. And the 2014 deadline for every child to be “proficient”—achievable only by dumbing down the meaning of that word—is out.

But there are big differences. Here are some highlights:

 

Administration “Blueprint”

NEA proposals

Testing:

The Blueprint does not shrink NCLB’s heavy testing schedule and maintains its assumption that student scores are the key measure of school excellence. Fewer mandated standardized tests—just one in grades 4–6 and one in grades 7–9. High schools could assess in a variety of ways, including tests and senior projects. More use of tests that are designed to guide instruction.

Help for struggling schools:

Schools where students score lowest must choose one of four plans. Three of them require closing the school, giving it to a charter operator, or firing the staff and rehiring no more than half. Research does not support any of these. Schools should analyze their specific problems and design strategies to fix them, choosing from a broad set of research-based approaches such as smaller classes, better mentoring and coaching, intensive professional development, and early intervention strategies in math and reading.

Teacher evaluation:

Evaluations must be based at least partly on student standardized test scores. School districts should develop stronger evaluation systems with and for their employees. No new power for federal officials to intervene in teacher evaluation.

How federal money is given out:

More use of competitive grants, so only some districts will benefit and none will be able to budget for the long-term. Money allocated according to financial need, as indicated by the number of low-income children and similar factors.

 

COMMENTS:

1 - 10 out of 175 Comments |Add your comment

mynana | 2010/08/16

When do you stop referring to it as NCLB which infers the Bush administration, and start calling it Race to the Top, which is the Obama biased, prejudiced travisty?

For Rachel | 2010/07/02

So as a nurse, if you tell a patient they need to take their medication every day after dinner are you responsible if they don't take it or don't eat first? Do you lose your license if they fail to follow clear instruction? Do you lose your job or have your pay reduced if they don't care enough about themselves to make the minimal effort required to maintain their health? I thought not.

Toots | 2010/06/14

Oh Theodora! I hope you were not teaching English courses?

Rachel | 2010/06/08

To leyvone 55 I have four boys in public school. My husband and I help with hours of homework everynight. Three of our children are involved in two sports each and have cubscouts weekly. My husband and I both have full time jobs. I resent that you think parents should be held accountable for low test scores. I am a nurse and I do not hold anyone else accountable for my job. Infact if I am not accountable for my job peoples lives are at stake and not to mention my license. When I was growing up my teachers taught in a way that students learned and retained what they learned. My parents never had to help us with homework. We feared the ramifications from our teachers if we didn't do our homework. If you expected someone else to be accountable for your job than maybe teaching wasn't your calling. I do however agree that parents should be accountable for having the kids to school everyday and on time. Parent participation and volunteering in our school is what I think makes our school so successful. We also have teachers that are very dedicated to their work and some even stay after on their own time to have study groups.

3rd grade teacher | 2010/05/15

This is for Savannah Torrance...Child if you are going to speak to educators on a professional website please learn to do it with complete sentences and correct spelling....Honestly after I read your comment I wanted to cry....Even my 3rd grade ESL students have better grammar and spelling skills than you do in 7th grade... In answer to your questions NCLB will effect you this way...if you are an average student and generally pass most of your test then you should be fine....above average students will be fine also....NCLB targets educators which is why there is the uproar. You see I read your comment and thought I know that some where in your educational journey at least one teacher has taught you how to write, spell and use grammar correctly but you apparently chose not to do so and yet they will be blamed for your bad decisions just like on your testing...when you and your fellow students decide you don't care about the test that day or you are going to screw it up for what ever reason or maybe you didn't get a good nights rest...it won't be your fault...oh no somehow it will be the fault of the educators.... Do you understand now?

monica | 2010/05/10

My district just spent 6 million to hire a Co. called ENI from Arizona to teach the teachers how to teach the children how to take tests and SCORE better!

monica | 2010/05/10

my district just

? | 2010/04/29

What about teachers who choose to teach students with MRDD? Will we make minimum wage because we chose to teach students with disabilities?

Frustrated | 2010/04/29

What then with teachers who are given the behavior problems in the entire grade level. It makes the other teachers look good. There is no more balancing of class set ups and people who are brown nosing administrators are being given students who test well.

Desiree | 2010/04/28

To the gal doing the NCLB project: For higher achievers, the tests are not accurate measures. Gifted students can perform high on these tests and are not truly challenged by them.

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May, 2010


Dennis Van Roekel brings the voice of educators to Congress regarding the reauthorization of ESEA: New blueprint makes a faulty connection between tests and teacher compensation.

You Can Help

Events may move quickly now. Click here to find out what’s happening and—most important—what you can do about it.

You’ll also find links to the Administration “Blueprint,” NEA policies, and NEA member discussions on NCLB.

The most influential lobbyists are NEA members, who work and vote in almost every Congressional district and know better than anyone what it takes to give every child a great public school.

Add your voice!

NEA’s Priority Schools

In NEA’s Priority Schools, educators, administrators, and parents have joined forces to help children learn. More here.

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