NCLBNCLBNCLBNCLBNo Child Left BehindNo Child Left Behind

(take notes, please)(take notes, please)

What is it?• Major education legislative passed at the

federal level– Remember, education is traditionally a state

and local responsibility

• Bipartisan effort– Effective 2002

• Reauthorization and modification of “Elementary and Secondary Education Act”

Focus• Standards-based reform• Basic Idea:

Setting high standards and measuring outcomes will improve school and student performance

How is this reform implemented?

• Annual standards-based testing– SOLs in Virginia

• Higher qualification standards for teachers– Degree or advanced degree in the core subject or – Major equivalent in the core subject (30 semester credits or the

equivalent) or – Passing score on state-approved Praxis II exam in core content – Pass the State Performance Review and/or state-approved teaching

program

• Annual progress report cards (AYP)– Based on test results and variety of other measures, including

teacher qualifications

• Funding from a variety of levels– i.e. If your school measures well, it may be entitled to federal funds

and educational subsidies

Success of NCLB• Teachers actually teach content now!

– Local standards have improved

• Students with disabilities (learning and physical) have showed higher graduation rates

• School Choice– If a school is not making AYP, then a student may have

the choice to enroll in another school

• Test scores have improved in many districts

Critics Say…• Deadline of 2014 for all schools to be up

to standards is too soon• “Teaching to the test”

– How might “high stakes” testing be detrimental to students and/or teachers?

• Too much focus on reading, math, science– Funds being taken away from arts, music,

electives

Critics Say…• Schools like YHS making AYP?

– What issues might you see with this?