Will Blueprint Bailout NCLB?

            In 2002, Elementary Secondary Education Act (ESEA) best known as No Child Left Behind (NCLB) was implemented as a data collection agent for states to assess problems in public schools. Usage of the information was to improving failures within the education system.  The Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) measured student knowledge in math, reading, science and critical thinking. Schools were rated pass or fail based upon the collective of student test scores. The results showed a majority of schools were failing. This inadvertently created another problem. Those schools with failing scores needed to hold someone accountable. Since teachers are responsible for student learning and development, they became the reason for failure. Teachers protested and in some case lost jobs. To improve test scores curriculum was geared toward passing the AYP.  Classrooms were micromanaged and teachers lost flexibility in teaching. States lowered achievement standards to meet AYP requirements. Over the years, many students were being dumb down for states to receive passing scores. Graduated students were not prepared for college and careers.

 

            Obama’s Blueprint Plan does not replace NCLB, but strives to correct core issues using a seven-point plan. Blueprint is a national effort to raise expectations and achievement of this counties most valuable resource.

1)      Raise education standards to prepare students for college and careers. Improve the progressive lowering of US education ranking that future generation competition in the global market.

2)      States are responsible for creating the measuring system of student growth and Reporting Results to the government, teachers, parents, local schools and students.

3)      Do away with one day testing using an arbitrary standard. Develop better assessments that include critical thinking and problem solving skills.

4)      Loosen Federal Regulation that limits teacher abilities and their use of other acquired knowledge in classrooms.

5)      Recognize And Reward Success of schools obtaining student growth. More flexibility with federal funds will be allowed to redirect focus from testing results to student progress.

6)      Provide a well-rounded education that offer all subjects needed to improve student lives.

7)      Focus on student growth by strengthening teaching using professionals with a wide set of skills and knowledge. Teaching effectiveness is measured through classroom observation, teacher portfolios, student and parent data, and achievement data.

            By forcing teachers to model curriculum around AYP test subjects, NCLB has created a testing culture within our school system. It has resulted in generations of students not prepared for college or the global workforce. The Blueprint Plan is attempting to restore elements of the education system vital to the positive development of this nation’s best resource. This plan called upon everyone in the education stream to help bridge the gap.

            I do not know how I feel about the plan. Everyone was excited about NCLB until the flaws became visible. Now there are ten generations of unprepared children. Some will struggle throughout life fixing problems they did not cause. Maybe that is the nature of the beast, to fix a few problems and develop one hundred more. What do you think?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LV7od-RU1Jw
http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/education/k-12
http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/blueprint/index.html