My thoughts on NCLB

In the beginning, I think many thought that the NCLB Act was a great proposal and who wouldn't? NCLB aims at improving students' performance, holds schools accountable and allows parents more options when choosing schools for their children. What's wrong with that? Plenty!

Reality: In order to improve student performance, many teachers have to accommodate their schedules by dropping other subjects and concentrate on math and reading (and sometimes science) which are the areas tested. I admit that I rearrange my plans in order to fit more math and language art practice months before the NJ ASK. One week I may drop Social Studies and use that period to teach math or language arts and then the following week I will drop another subject (such as Health or Science) so I am not dropping the subject altogether to teach to the test. I will also admit that by the time the test comes around, we are all looking forward to it just to get it over with! I won't deny the test results, all this "teaching to the test" is in fact, improving test results but are the students really learning or just memorizing?

Reality: It holds schools accountable by taking funding away if they fail to meet the high expectations set. How is this suppose to help? If the school couldn't meet the expectations with funding, how is it going to meet it without funding? And to add insult to injury, passing schools get an incentive. Fully funding this act is what should have been the first priority before imposing such high expectations on schools. Without it, many children are being left behind.

Reality: School choice, yeah right! It's not that easy or simple. Parents are suppose to have more choices when choosing schools for their children but what happens when they are told there isn't any room at that school or when the school is far away? I don't know what percentage of parents actually take advantage of this option and I'm even more curious to find out how many parents even know they have a choice if their child is attending a failing school. I honestly don't believe schools make it publicly known that parents have that option. After all, they don't want their "smarter" students to go elsewhere!