The N&O’s editorial on No Child Left Behind made me chortle (Through the Looking-Glass reference intended). Like most pieces on the federal law, the N&O editorial fails to acknowledge some key points:
1) Between 2001 and 2005, NCLB funding for State aid has increased by $195 million
2) Between 2001 and 2005, NCLB funding for administration has increased by $17.8 million
3) School districts have done a remarkably poor job informing parents about the school choice provision in the law
4) NCLB grants extraordinary flexibility to states, allowing them to choose their standardized tests and most teacher certification requirements
David Holdzkom, Wake County’s assistant superintendent for evaluation and research, made the remark that NCLB uses “threats and intimidation” to motivate teachers and principals. Yeah – there are no mafia-ninja-sniper-enforcers working for the U.S. Department of Education, so I think “intimidation” is a stretch.
The editorial writer wants legislators to get “more input from teachers and principals and those who believe the policy is flawed.” These people would agree to keep the money and ditch the regulations, which is in line with the National Education Association union and their hairy cousins like the North Carolina Association of Educators. Obviously, the “new bipartisan makeup on Capitol Hill” will not pass a plain vanilla law because the move would be perceived as lowering standards.
Next idea?
