thank you no child left behind![]()
A lot of people have no idea what the NCLB Act really is.
It's a federal law requiring certain (education related) criteria to be met in order for states to receive federal funding for education. In other words, it holds the states accountable. IF they want federal funding, they have to prove they're making progress in the schools. Why would we keep giving taxpayers' money (yours & mine) to states that have abysmal education results? Would you, as a business owner, want to pay someone who is not doing the job they were hired to do? As an employer, you have the right to expect them to adhere to certain requirements in order to stay employed with you. Would you keep them on the payroll month after month if they continually failed to meet your expectations?
We have to take this a couple of steps further. The NCLB Act gives the individual STATES the right to decide for themselves how they will meet that criteria. So if NCLB doesn't work in your state - you have your state to thank for that.
Additionally, in each state - you then have criteria that the local education agencies (LEAs) have to meet in order to be in compliance with NCLB in their STATE. In our case locally, we have our countys' Boards of Education who decide the criteria in each county to adhere to and meet the STATE requirements for NCLB.
So, when you break it all down - the responsibility lands squarely in your own neighborhood - not on the Federal Government or George Bush.
That said - it's probably not even the school's fault the girl couldn't count back change. I have 2 kids. I'm the one who checks to see that they're doing their homework and that they are doing what they're supposed to be doing in school. I am involved. So I see to it that my kids are learning. If they aren't - then I go about the business of finding out WHY.
Four Pillars of NCLB