Submitted by Stacy Sinclair (not verified) on September 6, 2007 - 12:53.
In my opinion, NCLB has changed many things about K-12 education - for the better. For the first time in my long career, administrators are worried what will happen if students don't learn. They are focused on finding strategies to support their teachers who are successful and find strategies for those who are struggling. Finances are being diverted from food for meetings and expensive administrative retreats to buying textbooks, paying for teacher trainings and providing air conditioning (and other upgrades in working conditions) for classrooms. Underperforming schools are seeking help from the county offices to help them identify what they could be doing to better serve their students. Administrators are in the classrooms and attending trainings so they know the instructional materials and they know how they should be implemented. While the law wasn't written to support one pedagogy, I think the changes I've seen are pretty remarkable given that the federal government only funds 7% of the cost of public education. The rest is funded by the state and local initiatives. For those who don't want to comply with the requirements of NCLB they can choose not to receive the 7%. Not a bad trade if you ask me.
NCLB isn't all bad
Submitted by Stacy Sinclair (not verified) on September 6, 2007 - 12:53.
In my opinion, NCLB has changed many things about K-12 education - for the better. For the first time in my long career, administrators are worried what will happen if students don't learn. They are focused on finding strategies to support their teachers who are successful and find strategies for those who are struggling. Finances are being diverted from food for meetings and expensive administrative retreats to buying textbooks, paying for teacher trainings and providing air conditioning (and other upgrades in working conditions) for classrooms. Underperforming schools are seeking help from the county offices to help them identify what they could be doing to better serve their students. Administrators are in the classrooms and attending trainings so they know the instructional materials and they know how they should be implemented. While the law wasn't written to support one pedagogy, I think the changes I've seen are pretty remarkable given that the federal government only funds 7% of the cost of public education. The rest is funded by the state and local initiatives. For those who don't want to comply with the requirements of NCLB they can choose not to receive the 7%. Not a bad trade if you ask me.