Why NCLB Does Not Make Sense

[Eeyores Butterfly]

While a nice sentiment, NCLB has been one of the worst things that have happened to schools. I was reminded of this today by our district meeting. I am a pre-intern in the district where my university is (I teach special ed half days) and we had our first faculty meeting today. We learned that our school is officially in "improvement status" under NCLB. Here is where the stupidity of the law comes in:

Missouri has the third highest standards of any state, and the third most rigorous test. We are the only state that did not lower their standards after the passing of the law. NCLB requires increasing proficiency every year til literally every single kid will be proficient on whatever standardized test their state uses, however children who are in special ed are expected to perform on the same level as their regular education peers, even though by virtue of the fact they are in special ed this is difficult if not impossible for many of them.

Anyway, Missouri as a state has consistenetly been performing well above the required percentage of proficient students, but soon the two percentages will collide. We have been performing much higher than the average for our state, and did so again this year, as a whole. However, our special education breakout group did not meet proficiency. So even though we are still above the state average and above what is required, one break out group has put our entire district into improvement status. We are still accredited with distinction (meaning we are considered a top district in our state), but we have to send out letters to parents about our improvement status.

It is such a stupid law, especially for areas like ours. If improvement status continues, in larger cities parents are given vouchers and school choice. This is a rural area. The only other school in our city is the catholic school which is much worse than the public school and there is no way they could handle an increase in enrollment. It also only goes up to eighth grade, so there is no school choice here. One article that I read for a grad class did a statistical analysis and found that any school with enough special ed students to make a break out group is guaranteed to not meet proficiency. One of the things I have been taught is that you never make an educational decision based on one test, but this is precisely what NCLB is doing. Our situation only underscores how ludicrous this whole thing is.

I am all for accountability, but this law needs to change. It is poorly thought out and underfunded. Let's get some real accountability- and the funds to back it up! Write your representatives, let them know that NCLB needs to be changed dramatically before they reauthorize it.

 

[yeartolate]

Most teachers I know call it "every child left behind".

 

[Charade]

...........

 

[Charade]

Most teachers I know call it "every child left behind".

http://www.tedkennedy.com/journal/1375/senator-kennedy-on-nclb-meeting-with-president-bush

Just needs more money.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I think the sub-groups only count if there are less than 30 in it per school. So like, white kids test scores at my school don't count because we don't have 30 of them. So if you can get those numbers under 30, maybe they won't count either! (I'm saying this tongue in cheek...NCLB loves to play with numbers.)

I agree....the NCLB is statistically impossible even in theory....not to mention reality!

My personal opinion is that every politician should be required to spend at least 500 hours in hands-on volunteering in a local school before they can be included on a ballot.

 

[6gr8kidz]

NCLB = No teacher left standing.The amount of garbage the teacher has to do in order to get a child to pass a test is crazy. Teach the children the skills they will need not the answers to a test. NCLB was part of the reason I chose to take my children out of public school. I homeschool all 6 of them and I can speak from experience. Teachers are under appreciated and under paid in my opinion.

 

[yeartolate]

http://www.tedkennedy.com/journal/1375/senator-kennedy-on-nclb-meeting-with-president-bush

Just needs more money.

The constant complaint I hear is the need to teach to the test, which is obviously a very poor way to learn. The high stakes testing has forced many states to lower the bar for testing - stupid testing to prove they are not failing or face major repercussions.

So it is worse than being poorly funded, it teaches the schools how to manipulate the system in order to stay afloat.

There is alot to fix, money would help, but it is not everything.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I think the sub-groups only count if there are less than 30 in it per school. So like, white kids test scores at my school don't count because we don't have 30 of them. So if you can get those numbers under 30, maybe they won't count either! (I'm saying this tongue in cheek...NCLB loves to play with numbers.)

I agree....the NCLB is statistically impossible even in theory....not to mention reality!

My personal opinion is that every politician should be required to spend at least 500 hours in hands-on volunteering in a local school before they can be included on a ballot.

Basically, a sub group has to have a certain number of students. In our case it is 20, and we have more than 20 students. Part of the problem with special ed is that only a percentage of your students are allowed to take an alternate assessment. It is not based on the actual need of the students but on a flat percentage. We have many families who move to our district from the surrounding cities because while we are small (17,000 with the university) we are the largest city in a hundred mile radius. We also have a wonderful special ed department, so we have a higher percentage of students with more severe disabilities.

Teaching to the test is actually good practice in theory. What is on the test is what should be important to learn. You should never test over objectives that were not covered, so if the test is a true reflection of necessary skills, then those are the skills that should be taught.

One dilemma I'm facing with my mentor teachers is our CWC math class. We are teaching the same material they covered in 6th grade because this groups of students did not get it. No, we are not teacing the skills that will be on the test, but if they dod not master these basic skills, they will not do well later on. We had to make the conscious decision to help them get the foundation tehy need, regarldess of the repercussions. If we move on and teach the skills on the test, they still won't get it. This decision helps them in the long run, but penalizes us on our standardized tests.

 

[JennaTX]

http://www.tedkennedy.com/journal/1375/senator-kennedy-on-nclb-meeting-with-president-bush

Just needs more money.

This was first started in Texas by then Governor Bush. Maybe the Democrats have latched on now that it was brought to a national level.

It has been a disaster since it started here....no one likes it! Not teachers, children or parents.

Last year my DD was in 3rd grade, the first year to take the test.

The night before the test as I am putting her to bed she starts telling me about how if she doesn't pass she can take it again on this date, and if she still doesn't pass it she can try again on another date, but after that she will have to repeat 3rd grade!

Next is the "stress releavers" the school taught them.... stretching, squeezing your palms (like you had a stress ball in your hand), etc.

I was shocked at the amount of pressure put on my DD!! She was practically in tears over it, even though I knew it would not be a problem for her.

I don't blame the teachers or the school, they have to "teach to the test" to get funding for the school.

I don't know what the answer is, but NCLB is not it. If you are in a grade where there is testing, that is all you are learning that year. Forget about music, art, science, social studies, etc.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Eeyore's Butterfly -

Are you getting your master's before you start teaching for the first time or have you taught before and you're going back to school for the master's?

Just curious. I'm working on my master's (almost done!) but I'm doing it while I teach; I'm starting my 4th year in a couple of weeks.

 

[Suzimom]

I teach 3rd grade in the Midwest (taught sped & various elementary grades with a 2nd grade stint in Independence Mo after graduating from college).

At my most recent elementary school we were "blessed" with a visit by Margaret Spellings and Mrs. Bush. None of us knew what "nonsense" was happening when we were yelled at to "clean everything up" -- open space building with no storage -- not easy to store materials...teachers were told the evening right before the 5:00 news broke it to the community...what a dumb waste of time all around........there was so much to deal with the day Laura came to visit -- kids were not allowed to use the restrooms except when they first entered the building...we had to be "in place" at the time her plane landed in town -- women were even directed as to what to wear -- pantyhose, no exceptions -- WHAT??? ...our poor librarian -- (brilliant woman!!) had to occupy our 1-5th grade students in the gym in a strange seating format for over an hour while the First Lady & dignitaries were moving around the building...our kindergartners were locked in their rooms (without bathrooms) during the entire visit. Then after visiting two classrooms, she awarded a star teacher award to a teacher that most of us were not thrilled with -- hasn't changed in her teaching methods -- a favorite of the principal...test scores happened to go up due to MANY teachers' efforts...

My biggest fear was that John Stewart (LOVE him!!) would get footage & make fun of me because I was sitting there seeming to agree with the whole garbage being fed to the public...

It was the biggest waste of a teaching day I've EVER experienced -- even beyond early outs for weather or the days leading up to holidays or the end of the year.

I HATE NCLB & the restrictions it has placed upon me as an educator. I am still in the same district, but have transferred to a different building where the emphasis is upon creative thinking & WAAAAYY fewer programs (no Reading First, Title, or ESL )-- love these programs, but I have so much more autonomy in my day & I can't wait to see how much difference I can make without interruptions or "good intentions."

Not meaning to change the ideas expressed here, but I'm very curious to see how the often-proposed 4-day week will play with NCLB...

Any thoughts??

Susan

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Suzimom - We have not had anybody that famous visit my school, but each year the city does a "Quality Review" of every school in the city. The irony of this is that they TELL you what days they are coming a few weeks before they visit. This gives us time to "set the stage" so that when they come we can "perform our show". It's all a sham and everybody seems to know this except the people touring and the media. Those days are a beast though...same kind of stuff you described for three days in a row. No bathroom privileges, etc. This year our visit fell on the 100th day of school and I think maybe Valentine's Day but you better believe I didn't even acknowledge either until the day AFTER they left! Heaven forbid they come across an learning activity that is not SILENT!

Good luck at your new school (this is your first year there?) Hopefully you will have limited interruptions. One day a few years ago (true story)...I was trying to teach while "It's a Small World" blared from the intercom.

I don't know how a 4 day week and NCLB will get along, but I'm sure they won't. NCLB takes a good idea and turns it into a horror.

I'd like to see how NCLB gets along with a new president. Do you think they will play nicely together?

 

[Suzimom]

I think it could be a great change with the right president! Let's hope and pray!!!! Things have to get better, though. I've taught long enough to know that the pendulum does swing, & I've been trying to get younger teachers to understand that (heck, I'm not THAT old, but...). I just keep telling myself that I have to keep my kids' emotional and social needs right up there with the academics. I tell my kids every year that I want them to learn so much in their year with me...with the most important lesson being..."be a nice person." I've had some less-than-stellar students academically who I KNOW will outshine some of my smartest because they know how to handle people...I can often learn from them!!!

Yuck for you with these 3-day long visits...

This is my first year in my new school. I absolutely LOVE my new principal...she is VERY different from any I've ever had...I haven't heard one word from her about test-scores or impressing anyone in the district. That may change, but I hope to share some of my earned wisdom with her about teaching and helping the child and not the district or test!!!

We all have to hope for and work for positive change, don't we??? It will get better, it WILL get better, it WILL get better!!!!!!!!!

Susan

 

[ctinct]

At my most recent elementary school we were "blessed" with a visit by Margaret Spellings and Mrs. Bush. None of us knew what "nonsense" was happening when we were yelled at to "clean everything up" -- open space building with no storage -- not easy to store materials...teachers were told the evening right before the 5:00 news broke it to the community...what a dumb waste of time all around........there was so much to deal with the day Laura came to visit -- kids were not allowed to use the restrooms except when they first entered the building...we had to be "in place" at the time her plane landed in town -- women were even directed as to what to wear -- pantyhose, no exceptions -- WHAT??? ...our poor librarian -- (brilliant woman!!) had to occupy our 1-5th grade students in the gym in a strange seating format for over an hour while the First Lady & dignitaries were moving around the building...our kindergartners were locked in their rooms (without bathrooms) during the entire visit. Then after visiting two classrooms, she awarded a star teacher award to a teacher that most of us were not thrilled with -- hasn't changed in her teaching methods -- a favorite of the principal...test scores happened to go up due to MANY teachers' efforts...


Susan

Hi, Suzimom,

Good grief about the pantyhose. I suspect that was a decree from administration, but the no bathroom rule may have been a security thing. I was at a school that had a visit from Pres. Bush many years ago, although I was not there at the time of the visit. Security was very tight. Before the visit, new secure phone lines were put in, and a special secure locked room (a closet really) was outfitted. Windows that faced the street side were blacked out, and there were men positioned on the roofs of adjacent buildings. Hallway movement was restricted, but it was explained that this was to protect the children. It probably seems like overkill to some, but I can only imagine the uproar if God forbid a child was hurt by someone trying to get at the President. "Why didn't you think about this beforehand?!?!" I imagine security may not have been QUITE as strict for Mrs. Bush and Mrs. Spellings, but I'm sure there were precautions taken for both the safety of the children and the visitors.

 

[aprilgail2]

Eeyore's Butterfly -

Are you getting your master's before you start teaching for the first time or have you taught before and you're going back to school for the master's?

Just curious. I'm working on my master's (almost done!) but I'm doing it while I teach; I'm starting my 4th year in a couple of weeks.

In our district and others around here they tend to hire the teachers that DON'T have their masters right away because they get 4-5 years of them teaching while they can pay them the lower salary since theri salary jumps considerably once they have their masters. My firends daughterwanted to get her masters first but was talked out of it since it would be harder to get a job.
As far as NCLB goes- its reffered to as no child left untested here.

 

[loco4dis]

While NCLB isn't perfect, it's worth noting that nationwide reading and math performance has improved since the law's implementation, and the achievement gap between white and minority students has narrowed.

Prior to some of the provisions in NCLB, some of the shenanigans that went on in the public schools were positively scandalous: PE teachers teaching math, art teachers teaching English, teachers with no credentials at all or even a bachelor's degree teaching, teachers giving students answers to state proficiency tests, etc. And regarding special ed. students, there was abuse there, too, with some districts moving poor performers to special ed. so they wouldn't have to be counted on state-mandated performance assessments.

I realize the law needs to be updated, but to throw it away all together would be insane. So long as the teachers unions continue to be wholly political organizations focused solely on protecting teachers — even the really, truly awful ones — and maintaining the status quo at all cost, there needs to be outside accountability for the performance of schools.

 

[Becky2005]

I haven't read through it all but I think it's crazy. I have one child that has a reading disability and there is no way he could pass a test at this point "on grade level".

I just had Freshman parent orientation and sure enough one of the things was talking about how they require the kids to take part of the testing because it impacts the school's yearly Progress Report, so they want all the kids to excel.

That's IMPOSSIBLE....just like they kept talking about wanting all the kids to be #1 spot. That's also IMPOSSIBLE. In a class of 500 -- SOMEBODY has to be #500. It's just physically impossible for it to be a tie for 1st place for all 500. Not going to happen.

Unless they make the test something along the lines of "what is your name?" -- with different ways to answer the question (i.e. orally/written), you are going to not get 100%.

Oh well....my kid is one that drags the school down but you know what, even if they gave me a voucher I wouldn't change because I know the school works really hard and luckily they also let kids be kids and haven't gone to a lot of the insane degrees others have (the grade schoolers still get their recess, etc...). They also give him lots of help. They offer lots of classes for all levels.

 

[MM27]

Teachers are under appreciated and under paid in my opinion.

Thank you

And regarding special ed. students, there was abuse there, too, with some districts moving poor performers to special ed. so they wouldn't have to be counted on state-mandated performance assessments.

But special ed students are tested too and count towards Annual Yearly Progress (AYP). The problem is, all year you have kids in special ed classes that are being taught on their own level (good right), but then during testing week you shove this test at them that they must pass. We have 6th graders in my school in special ed that are on 1st and 2nd grade reading levels and then they are expected to read a 6th grade test with 6th grade reading passages. Oh, and the nice people that make the rules say that the questions can be read to the students. Sounds good right? But they can't read the passages to the kid. So, we know you can't read the questions so we'll read those for you, but here, read this 4 or 5 page passage yourself.

I don't argue that there needs to be accountability, however with NCLB as it currently stands, kids can improve but still be considered "failing". I had a student last year that came to me in September with scores that were not proficient on the 3rd grade test. We get a printout of all the scores for the district on our grade level. This student had the lowest scores for 3rd grade in the district. In NJ, kids need a score of 200 to be proficient and this child had a 130 something.

I worked with this kid so much in 4th grade. She stayed after school with me once a week, she worked so hard and in 4th grade (harder test now) she scored a 198. So in NCLB standards, she is still not proficient-she fails. Nobody takes into account that this kid went up some 60 points, nobody cares how much effort was put into improving, all they say is she failed. That's the part of NCLB that I find the worst.

 

[mom2rb]

This was first started in Texas by then Governor Bush. Maybe the Democrats have latched on now that it was brought to a national level.

It has been a disaster since it started here....no one likes it! Not teachers, children or parents.

Last year my DD was in 3rd grade, the first year to take the test.

The night before the test as I am putting her to bed she starts telling me about how if she doesn't pass she can take it again on this date, and if she still doesn't pass it she can try again on another date, but after that she will have to repeat 3rd grade!

Next is the "stress releavers" the school taught them.... stretching, squeezing your palms (like you had a stress ball in your hand), etc.

I was shocked at the amount of pressure put on my DD!! She was practically in tears over it, even though I knew it would not be a problem for her.

I don't blame the teachers or the school, they have to "teach to the test" to get funding for the school.

I don't know what the answer is, but NCLB is not it. If you are in a grade where there is testing, that is all you are learning that year. Forget about music, art, science, social studies, etc.

Texas has had high pressure testing the longest. We also have the highest % of home schoolers in the country. The two definitely go together.

 

[swilphil]

I've worked in public education for 17 years, and NCLB does much more harm than good. Yes, the schools do need to improve in order to make sure students are not slipping through the cracks, but testing them to death isn't the answer. I have seen the needs of the very lowest students being addressed with NCLB, but the needs of the other 99 % of the students are being ignored. Plus, my own elementary age children are basically having the joy of learning and going to school sucked out of them.