Why You Don't Hate No Child Left Behind

Students, parents, teachers, community members, yadda, yadda, yadda love to tell me how much they hate the federal law No Child Left Behind.  When they do, I ask just one poignant question, "What do you hate about it?"  Their response, "I just hate the whole law.  I mean, they are leaving children behind!"

Really?  Have you seen the law?  Have you seen what it includes?  Then, I educate them.  I am a teacher, after all, right?

No Child Left Behind (also known as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act), like most federal laws, is divided into chapters.  Well, they are not called chapters, but instead the law is divided into titles.   Each title speaks to a different topic related to providing the most high quality, public education the US Department of Education can encourage and/or require.

The titles are hard to "hate."  Who doesn't want....

Title 1:  Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged (Meaning, children who are at risk for not having successful experiences in school.  This includes children from poverty, students who struggle with literacy, and a discussion about high school drop-outs)

Title 2:  Preparing, Training and Recruiting High-quality Teachers and Principals (includes a useful section about preparing teachers to use technology.  Huzzah!)

Title 3:  Language Instruction for Limited English Proficient and Immigrant Students (My favorite group of students to work with - English Language Learners - Yay!)

Title 4:  21st Century Schools (Sadly, this includes topics that need addressing:  drug- and gun-free schools.  Boo!  But, it is reality)

Title 5:  Promoting Informed Parental Choice and Innovative Programs (just say, "innovation" and I'm in!  This section talks about magnet and charter schools and gifted instruction.  Woot, woot!)

Title 6:  Flexibility and Accountability (Think standardized assessments and lots of metrics to measure student progress)

Title 7:  Indian, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native Education  (You know how much I adore my Navajo students)

Title 8:  Impact Aid Program (Think construction of buildings. This section is a snoozer, to me)

Title 9:  General Provisions (Think "the basics" - how many days of schools should be required, defining key terms, prayer in schools policy, etc.)

Title 10:  Repeals, Redesignations and Amendments to Other Statues (This title is a bit of a default for topics that might be addressed in other federal mandates or have been amended)

Do you see what I mean?  What's to hate?  

If you are going to "hate" anything, hate the fact that only a small percentage of the federal budget is allocated for education (explained here) and thus, laws like No Child Left Behind could use more financial support.  Period.

Who knows what the next four years will bring with re-elected President Obama.  I am not thinking miracles as far as education goes, but maybe some updates to No Child Left Behind and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.  Remember what my inside source said here.  Some freshening up could be on the horizon.

All the best,
Jen

PS - Just in case you want to read the entire No Child Left Behind law in all its splendor, click here.

Fieldtrip, anyone?

It's been a year since my amazing colleagues and I visited here....

Indeed, the mecca of US education - The United States Department of Education.  I have to admit two things:  1) I had never been there before and 2) I felt pretty nifty to have visited.  Now, I have insider connections there.  You heard me - real connections with real people.  Thus, because my college students and I are studying special education laws & mandates (I promise, it is a touch more interesting than it sounds), I decided to email one of my connections to see if anything new is brewing in the world of education and laws.

Here's the latest and greatest (with my interjections):

• IDEA (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) was slated to be reauthorized in 2012.  However, since Congress is busy with other matters and cannot seem to agree upon much and it is an election year, IDEA is on hold right now as far as a reauthorization goes.  My connection's hunch is it will be years before IDEA is updated and reauthorized.  Yes, years.
• ESEA (the Elementary and Secondary Education Act), also known since 2001 as the No Child Left Behind Act, is also behind schedule.  It was slated to be reauthorized in 2010 (or 2011).  To date, an ESEA reauthorization is on hold.  Same reasons as IDEA....busy, disagreeable Congress and it is an election year.  Why can't we just get along?
• Interested in reading the changes proposed for the reauthorization of ESEA?  If so, click here.  Since all federal laws are lengthy, thankfully can you click on the portion  of the law that interests you most.
• My connection's hunch is that IDEA will have better alignment with ESEA with regard to teacher qualifications, the reduction of paperwork, etc.  I personally like the parts on "early learning" - especially the birth-through-college-to-career-agenda and "innovation" - especially the part related to school choice.  I appreciate forward-thinking topics.
• If you'd like to learn more about the most current IDEA, click here.

I must run....I'm headed to Washington, DC today for something else special and education-related.

All the best,
Jen