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NCLB - 10 states given permission to hold ...


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NCLB was, in my not so humble opinion, horrible legislation. However, I also do not think that the problems that this nation faces in education can be solved at a federal level. Not only do the states need to take back some control and ownership, but it really needs to go back to each community.

 

The micro-cultures of individual communities affect education so much and nothing that the feds and to some degree, state boards of education, will do can adequately address those local issues.

 

Treating every situation, every kid, every community as "the same" is a social experiment that has failed. Honestly, I think letting 10 states take back the reins is only the beginning. But, at least someone, somewhere, decided to fight NCLB and recognizes it for what it is....everyone left behind!

 

Okay, I'm in a feisty mood! :D

 

Faith

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NCLB was, in my not so humble opinion, horrible legislation.

 

Faith

 

There is a school district close to me that was quoted as saying "We always knew "those" kids were failing. We just never had a reason to care." NCLB has actually been good for that district. If it were a funded mandate, with intelligent application for SN, ESL, and LD kids, and the states couldn't just lower their standards to meet the requirements, it wouldn't be a horrible law. But the end result seems to be a lowering of standards and ignoring all of the kids who are already meeting standards.

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And the latest information I have on one of the school districts in MN that requested this doesn't really jive with the whole higher standard. The information is a couple months old but, last I heard they want to spend money that is ear-marked for under-performing students on a new computer lab to benefit "all" students. Of course the new computer lab will be in one of the top performing schools and very few under-performing kids will ever access it but... it's for the benefit of all the students.

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There is a school district close to me that was quoted as saying "We always knew "those" kids were failing. We just never had a reason to care." NCLB has actually been good for that district. If it were a funded mandate, with intelligent application for SN, ESL, and LD kids, and the states couldn't just lower their standards to meet the requirements, it wouldn't be a horrible law. But the end result seems to be a lowering of standards and ignoring all of the kids who are already meeting standards.

 

That is one thing I wonder about. While some states do have laws that make them provide for SN kids, there are other states just doing the bare minimum of the law. I wonder if they can get away from NCLB are they going to figure out how to provide even less for these kids? Sadly, doing away with this will not stop the teaching to the test that goes on. But maybe it is a start.

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My state is one of the 10. I just read through the proposal that got accepted for the waiver, and I can't say I'm impressed. It's basically NCLB by another name. Schools (and more specifically, individual teachers) will still be graded based on test results. "Failing" schools will still have to implement action plans. All the proposals are based around the idea of having the funding to make these goals happen, and right now, I don't see any extra money flowing in. The plan for special-needs and ELL students seems especially vague.

 

Maybe I'm just a pessimist, but I don't see the waiver changing things very much around here.

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Agree that NCLB was a thorough disaster.

 

Did anyone get to see the announcement?

 

Off to google.

 

ETA: Not finding anything current. I did find this article which lists the states affected and gives more information than the first article I linked, but I'm hesitant to

post it as it's "a bit" politic@l. And yes - that is a dirty word!!!! Please only discussion of the NCLB and changes to it in the 10 states - thank you!!! : )

 

http://news.yahoo.com/10-states-education-waivers-175704242.html

Edited by Teachin'Mine
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