The No Child Left Behind act of 2001 is a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act that authorizes a number of education programs, which are by the states. The act includes the government’s flagship aid program, which caters for the disadvantaged students. NCLB supports educational reforms that are based on setting high standards in education, and establishing measurable goals that improve the individual outcomes. The act demands that the state should develop assessment in basic skill, to receive funding and assess all students at different grade levels. The federal law in the government was expanded by the NCLB though the funding changes, annual academic progress, teacher qualification, annual testing, and report cards.
Through the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the NCLB aimed at providing students with a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high quality education. This could close the children’s achievement gaps bringing equality amongst them. The act emphasizes on accountability, flexibility, researched based education, and parent options, which increase the choices available to the parents of the students attending the schools. Research based education ensures that educational practices and programs have undergone a scientific research and proven efficient. Accountability ensures that the disadvantaged students achieve academic success. Flexibility in schools is significant as through it the federal education funds are used wisely to improve the achievement of students academically.
The mass media are one of the potent forces in the social environment of education. Media plays a significant role in education. Some of the major roles include provision of educational programs, spread of awareness to the students, early readiness to the children, and exposure to arts through music, performance, and entertainment. Through the mass media, students participate in discussions about the social issues in the society.
Proponents argue that when the parents have the choice on where to take their children, they will select the ones with the highest performance. The poor-performing schools hence will be forced to improve their education quality to retain the student. This, as a result, will improve the education system due to the presence of free competition. On the other hand, opponents argue that shifting students to private schools will lead to deterioration of education in public schools. This is because funding for the costs incurred in the public schools will decrease when students leave.
Proponents argue that, under non-voucher education systems, parents are entitled to double tax. This is because people who are for private schooling get taxed for public schools hence end up funding public and private schools. Opponents of school vouchers state that every citizen has a responsibility to fund public education. School vouchers limit the performance of public schools because they threaten their funding. They also argue that without school vouchers parents still have the choice of a school that suits their children’s needs.
The government in creating awareness to the citizens uses mass media by use of radio, television and newspapers in improving the education system by adoption of school vouchers. Different organizations use innovative approaches such as games and advertisements to spread the ideas on education policies to the citizens. These innovations are availed to the people using mass media.
Works cited
Stecher, Brian M., Georges Vernez, and Paul Steinberg. Reauthorizing No Child Left Behind facts and recommendations. Santa Monica, CA: RAND, 2010. Print.
Kahlenberg, Richard D.. Public school choice vs. private school vouchers. New York: Century Foundation Press, 2003. Print.
