Abstract
- This paper comprehensively analyses the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) education reform law.
- In addition, the paper discusses the impact of legislation on states and districts schools.
- Nonetheless, it highlights the recommendations and suggestions regarding the Act and provides better ways for a progressive program.
- According to the Act, States are charged with the responsibility to test the student's understanding in reading and mathematics.
Introduction
- The No Child behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) is an Act of Congress that reiterates the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
- It is a federal act that guides spending in elementary and secondary education.
- The adequate yearly progress (AYP), calculated in every year is a set standard for the student and math proficiency.
- The Act allows every state to set its standards and defines the federal role in public education.
History
- ESEA was legislated in 1965 as a component of the Johnson Administration’s War on Poverty campaign.
- In the beginning, the objective of the act was to establish equity and fairness by funding students from lower income families.
- Since the enactment of the act in 1965, it has been reiterated in more than seven times, recently in 2002 as the No Child Left Behind Act.
Overview
- Even though, NCLB is protected by the federal education program, accountability and improvements requirements have been treated in contempt.
- According to the Act, States are charged with the responsibility to test the student's understanding in reading and mathematics.
- The states and districts schools proceed by publishing the results and publicly announcing them.
- NCLB is the state that defines the grade level performance.
Background
- The NCLB Act creates awareness on the progress and performance of schools
- The annual school report card is a powerful tool that describes and disseminates school performances.
- The NCLB operates on four reports of education reform: tougher accountability for results, increased flexibility and local control, extended options for parents, and stresses on teaching qualifications and methods.
Analysis
- The Education Technology Aid Grant allocates funds to the state and district schools.
- In 2010, the NCLB program received $100 million from the congress, and the money was allocated to the states using a defined formula.
- Currently, the state has derailed the progress of the NCLB program by distributing 47 % of the funding.
Impact of NCLB on local school system
The NCLB has impacted the school system into eight different ways: -
- The students are improving their achievements and consequently lead to the increased percentage of proficient scores.
- About 71% of districts can make reduction of the time spent on subjects except mathematics and reading.
- Both learning and teaching are occurring at a greater speed.
- The NCLB has facilitated the growth of education reforms that has become a part of global school growth.
- The NCLB is estimated to facilitate highly qualified teacher in 88% of the school.
- The NCLB has resulted to the rise of the tests, and hence the rise of personality among students.
- The district and state schools have been able to pay attention to not only academics but also co-curricular activities.
- Federal government has shown significant interest on public and elementary education.
NCLB and American Public Education
- The NCLB has increased tests in American public education and hence accountability
- NCLB program has brought greater emphasis on the teachers’ qualifications
- The Obama administration has facilitated the provision of elementary and secondary education to all students
- Scores on reading and mathematics has been raising
- The act provides a quality education that enhances student’s reputation in life
Recommendations and suggestions: what to be done
- It is important to develop the management control that addresses the problem of data quality in the states.
- Data quality procedures should enhance the education to every citizen in the United States.
- Systematic approaches should be formulated to ensure tests on reading and mathematics achieves best scores
- Data management structure should be changed in a manner that students take interest in the tests with consciousness.
Actions specified
- In order to achieve the quality of data, fair approaches must be developed
- Fair approached entails appropriate selection of teachers in the school-level
- Staffs that cannot deliver the best result should be removed or changed their positions
- The curriculum should be changed to in favor for both teachers and students
- There should be a regular visit of the inspectors of education to the district and state levels
Conclusion
- It is evident that the NCLB act is a stepping stone towards the development of education strategies
- As expounded above, there are various benefits gained by student from the implementation of this legislation
- However, various recommendations, which can help the NCLB yield better results are explained in this paper.
References
McGuinn.P. (2006). No Child Left Behind and the Transformation of Federal Education Policy 1965-2005. Lawrence: University of Press of Kansas
U.S. Department of Education. (2004) New No Child Left Behind Flexibility: Highly Qualified Teachers.
