What is "No Child Left Behind"

[Snow White]

What exactly is this program about? thanks!

 

[antbritt]

Dont Know too much but basically it is a plan to make sure that each child receives the best education possible and does not get lost in the system.
See paste below and link fo rmore info:

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (No Child Left Behind) is a landmark in education reform designed to improve student achievement and change the culture of America's schools. President George W. Bush describes this law as the "cornerstone of my administration." Clearly, our children are our future, and, as President Bush has expressed, "Too many of our neediest children are being left behind."



http://www.ed.gov/nclb/overview/welcome/edpicks.jhtml?src=ln

 

[nemo1987]

we have this in our town it is basically where the schools go through testing and if they dont pass then the government comes to help or something like that. they want to have the schools be able to pass by a percentage so they know that each and every student is learning adequetely and that they are well prepared for the upcoming year. hence "no child left behind" they also have to undergo many activities and have to make sure every child understands the subject before they move on to another one. if they are still having troubles then the teacher is in charge of getting them the proper help and making sure that help is working. in fact one of our grade schools was on the news because they passed the tests with flying colors. they got a plaque signed by the superintendent and other school board members. it was pretty cool. im not sure if it is the same everywhere but that is basically what it is in our town.
**Sarah**

 

[FINFAN]

It is a nightmare. See earlier thread.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

Originally posted by FINFAN
It is a nightmare. See earlier thread.

LOL Ain't that the truth!

 

[Boo'sMom]

Originally posted by Snow White
What exactly is this program about? thanks!

IMHO...a crock of ****.

sorry, that doesn't answer your question......

 

[Cindy B]

There are implications for educators as well. In my district, all teachers need to be "highly qualified" in order to teach.

There are no set guidelines for "highly qualified" on a national scale. For my job, as a teachers aide, educational assistant, paraprofessional (whatever you call it in your district), new guidelines have to be met.

Now it is a minimum of 48 credits, but it is now changing to 60 credits or an associates degree to even be a teachers aide. For some that is not hard. In my school alone, I have many older women (retirees), or woman with children in college themselves that were until recently SAHMs. These women will not go back to school as they see no need.(either they have financial diffulculties, or can not see themselves in a classroom with 18 year olds, or maybe they never went to college ever).

These women will not keep there jobs after 2006. They will be terminated from employment. Some of these women have been with the district for 30 years!

And as another problem, the school district will not pay for anyone that is attempting to get the required credits for employment. Very soon, I will have 60 credits-associates degree.
At least with an associates degree, I can substitute teach in my district.

On the teacher side, many teachers have changed the subject they taught due to this. For example, a teacher that has been teaching math for a very long time (and was very good), has to now swich to social studies because his teaching courses (back in the 60's) reflected a history track. Many teachers in my building had to search for their transcripts and submit them to the administration. The transcripts aren't an issue for any of the younger teachers, but for some of the teachers that were there for 30 years that is a problem. Some teachers that have taught for a long time, are now considered unqualified due to the transcripts.

In essense the "transcript review" seems to be a scare tactic for some of the older teachers. Many older teachers are now retiring since they don't want to go back to school to get recertified
Many younger but experienced teachers (5 -10 years teaching) are finding themselves obtaining more courses to fit the new national standard.

This part of the the NCLB does weed out unqualified or "bad" teachers. Unfortuanately, you could have an extremely qualified teacher, (multiple masters degrees) but they could still be a horrible teacher. So the system is flawed.

 

[Cindy B]

And for the testing side, even the special education children have to adhere to the NCLB testing guidelines.

In my middle school there is a certain percentage that all students need to pass to receive funding. These tests include the NJ PASS (6th & 7th grade) and GEPA (8th grade).

My special education students were taught (actually attempted to be taught) the math aspects on the test. Many, if not all, did not understand the math concept. During the NJ Pass testing, my students did not know any of the questions. The basically just guessed the answers. Much teaching time was devoted to the concepts on the test, but all that teaching was for nothing.

I have been told that special education students scores are not even tallied toward the "final" score since they would bring "scores down". If these scores will bring the school average down, why put my students through this? Why devote classroom time to things that "don't count"?

Beleive it or not, the students know that their scores don't count (either they hear teachers talking or parents talking) so they don't even try.

 

[shortbun]

Around here, we call it "Every child left behind." It's another
unfunded mandate by the federal government. It effectively
handicaps schools that are performing well with huge classrooms
of students and no additional teachers. It does nothing to
help poor performing students get better nutrition, more sleep,
escape child abuse, get clean clothes or clothes that fit. It does
nothing to help the parents of those children improve their
home life or keep their children safe. My son's school had 200
applications from NCLB turned in this winter for next year. We
have classes that border 30 students now. What will we do with
more children? Our teachers work overtime with no pay now
to have put our school in the high achieving place it is. They
have nothing left and are about to be inundated with horrific
circumstances for their hard work. It's no wonder there is a
shortage of good teachers. Our school will survive. Parents of
the current students will pitch in and make sure the job gets done. We are unique. Look for test scores to go down all over
the nation thanks to NCLB. NCLB is just plain crap!!! A bunch
of white men drafted this legislation to solve the problems of
the people furthest from them culturally or socially. It's just stupid!

 

[Epcotgal8]

Oh my. Don't get me started. I work as a substitute teacher. I have a degree and could get certified with just a few more hours but actually I like the flexibility that substituting allows me and being able to teach in my 3 children's schools. We have such a large enrollment in this area that the kids have to change schools every 2 years until they get to 6th grade. I have had sooo many conversations with teachers about this. IMO, the "No Child Left Behind" Act sounds really "pretty" but it's a bunch of smoke and mirrors. It's hindering our education system a lot more than it's helping.
Off topic: Boos Mom - I like the photo you have on your posts. I wouldn't kick #8 out of my kitchen! (Or anywhere else )

 

[minniecarousel]

Yeah - Let's spend valuable classroom time teaching the kids how to pass "the test". Oh, and while we're at it: tell the schools that they MUST do this testing, but don't give them any money to do so.

 

[Snow White]

Thanks for the info, I wondered because I was talking to our superintendent yesterday about my dilemma trying to decide whether to be a teacher or a nurse and he told me that although Oklahoma teachers are like 49th on the pay scale average now, it doesn't look like it's going to improve soon, but that there are tons of teachers retiring early due to not wanting to adhere to the NCLB standards required.

 

[BrerMom]

Originally posted by Cindy B
And as another problem, the school district will not pay for anyone that is attempting to get the required credits for employment. ...

On the teacher side, many teachers have changed the subject they taught due to this. For example, a teacher that has been teaching math for a very long time (and was very good), has to now swich to social studies because his teaching courses (back in the 60's) reflected a history track. Many teachers in my building had to search for their transcripts and submit them to the administration. The transcripts aren't an issue for any of the younger teachers, but for some of the teachers that were there for 30 years that is a problem. Some teachers that have taught for a long time, are now considered unqualified due to the transcripts.

For some reason our district has decided to get ahead of the game and comply with NCLB for 2004/2005. The tension is so high, it's unbelievable. What Cindy is talking about is true here, too. We have excellent teachers that are not being given the time to change minors to majors or given the money to take tests/classes, they are just being switched to teaching a subject with a major. If they haven't taught that subject in 15-20 years and have been successful teaching their minor all those years, WHY do we think that they would do a better job with the major?

We are losing so many teachers this summer, it's scary. Class sizes are predicted to sky-rocket in addition because of declining state funding. Experienced teachers have already been warned that they will be required to mentor all the newbies that are expected to be hired.

The basic idea sounded so good, but it sure hasn't panned out that way. I still love teaching, but it's very, very different than it was at the beginning of my career.

 

[SonjaB]

Bus driver's motto?????

 

[isyne4u]

Teaching deaf students here, I'm being hounded by the admin because my kids can't/ don't pass our SOL tests (I know what you think that means..but our state says it Standards of Learning ) They want me to teach the curriculum, use the same materials as the mainstream students (books that many mainstream students can't read), teach discrete reading strategies, and improve their reading from say a 2nd grade level to a 6th grade level between Sept. and April. We like to begin testing at the end of May and you have to spend the rest of May reviewing for the testing. BUT then you can't teach any content that MIGHT be on the test the week leading up to the test and during the testing window! I am so frustrated right now that I can't see straight! The admin comes to me and wants to know why my deaf kids aren't passing the tests because NCLB looks at special ed numbers and we didn't make our Adequate Yearly Progress last year. I have to remind them that Annie Sullivan was a freakin Miracle Worker!! I am not!!! I can't magically make kids who can't read above a 2nd grade level suddenly be able to read at grade level and higher!! oooohhh this is just one of those topics that frosts my wheaties!!

Thanks for letting me vent on this topic!!
tara

 

[Megan's Mom]

The problem in our state is no one understands what "highly qualified means" The definitions change every day. Our special ed teachers are going to be hurt the most because they may be HQ in their exceptionality they also teach math, english and reading among other things and they have to be HQ in that area as well. Math seems to be the subject that people have the most trouble with because so many hours were required. Our special ed student s are expected to take the SAT test in their grade level and be successful on it when they are spec ed because they aren't on grade level. It is a mess that no one at the state department seems to understand. that is what happens when business people that know nothing about schools get involved. Also there are no provisions for student responsiblity or parent responsiblity. Good education brings all parties together for the good of the student.