Learning Opportunities
The nation’s testing policies put the cart before the horse, according to a number of researchers. Before students should submit to high-stakes standards, as required by No Child Left Behind and other state laws, the students must have the “opportunity to learn”—which includes the appropriate curriculum, learning materials, facilities, and, of course, teachers.
The question of opportunities is a hot button these days, especially for poor and minority students, who frequently have fewer than their wealthier peers. Recent legislative proposals, including the “Student Bill of Rights,” (H.R. 2178) introduced last year by Congressman and Pennsylvania Democrat Chaka Fattah, aim to ensure that state and federal governments provide all students with the educational opportunities that enable them to compete and succeed in a global economy.
For more information about the “opportunity to learn” concept, and its role within standards-based education reform, as well as links to research, visit the North Carolina Regional Educational Laboratory at www.ncrel.org and search for “opportunity to learn.”
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