School Reform: From Crusade to Sales Pitch

“… since the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and since the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (which directed federal funds to low-income schools), the nation has made progress toward access and excellence. Too slowly, of course, but progress nonetheless (see Richard Rothstein’s March 8, 2011 analysis for the Economic Policy Institute). Ed reformers ignore the data, claiming that poor and minority children are no better educated now than thirty or forty years ago. In fact, progress has slowed only in the last decade, since No Child Left Behind was implemented and the reform agenda gained traction. Other factors may play a role, but the ed reformers certainly haven’t improved progress.”

– “Hired Guns on Astroturf: How to Buy and Sell School Reform,” Joanne Barkan, Dissent

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10 Years of No Child Left Behind

Ten years ago, President George W. Bush signed the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) act into law. Mr. Bush, a legacy student at Yale, the Harvard MBA who crashed the world economy, is a great belever in education.

NCLB has been one of the most effective “blame-the-victim” excercises in the history of federal intervention. Schools that face the biggest challenges are wiped off the face of the earth, as if this eliminates their problems. States compete with each other to lower standards so more schools can be judged “adequate.”  At ten years old, NCLB enters the 5th Grade. Almost anything is smarter than this 5th grader.

President Obama is allowing some states the chance to get out from under NCLB, but that won’t help. What’s really needed: government coordination at all levels to advance the education of America’s children.

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Image by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

Comments are welcome if they are on-topic, substantive, concise, and not boring or obscene. Comments may be edited for clarity and length.

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