No Child Left Behind? The Politics and Practice of Accountability

Overview For states to receive federal funding , NCLB required That all teachers be highly qualified ' by 2007 Certified by the state and licensed by relevant bodies Has at least a bachelor 's degree demonstrated expertise in subject matter That standardized assessments in math and reading per state be administered to all students That only teaching strategies and professional development schemes that are based on scientific research should be used The granting of public school choice and other benefits to students should the school be identified as needing improvement Pro Arguments

Improve the quality of teachers throughout the public education system Teachers are forced to shape up or ship out Methods are aligned to proof-supported research Increase accountability of schools Standardized testing would show which schools are teaching students effectively Prevent students from getting left behind Eligible students whose schools need improvement have the option to receive free tutoring , attend after school enrichment programs , or move to a better school Con Arguments Provide motivation for schools to manipulate test results Since good results are equated to better funding and rewards , schools are more likely to cheat records or encourage cheating Standardized tests are very limited in terms of testing higher thinking skills Teachers are encouraged to prepare students for the test , not understand the subject matter Added costs on standardized testing and support systems are very burdensome especially in this time of financial crisis Does not consider individual differences Different students leaner in different ways and show learning in different ways as well Limiting assessment would discourage alternative learning Recent Developments Based on results released by the Department of Education in 2005 Nine-year-olds made better progress in reading in the last 5 years than in 28 years before that period They posted the best reading scores in the grade level since 1971 and best math scores since 1973 Thirteen-year-olds earned the highest standardized math scores ever recorded in American elementary school history Reading and math scores for Hispanic and African Americans increased significantly Reading and math achievement gaps between white and African American nine-year-olds and between white and Hispanic nine-year-olds decreased significantly Conclusion Factual evidence show that NCLB is improving student scores The issue on whether or not such scores may have been cheated in any way should be addressed Teachers are made more accountable at the cost of possibly reducing subject understanding Students are given more freedom and benefits at grater financial cost for the state Further evaluation should be done on NCLB to determine if the benefits are worth the costs Reference White , D (2008 . Pros Cons of the No Child Left Behind Act . Retrieved April 20 , 2008 from : http /usliberals .about .com /od /education /i /NCLBProsCons .htm Default Design Overview For states to receive federal funding , NCLB required That all teachers be highly qualified ' by 2007 Certified by the state and licensed by relevant bodies Has at least a bachelor 's degree demonstrated expertise in subject matter That standardized assessments in math and reading per state be...