No Child Left Behind by the NCLB Legislation: Benefits and Challenges
A. Impact of Accountability
NCLB legislation changed education in the United States. Schools, teachers, administrators, and even paraprofessionals are now responsible for ensuring that every student is proficient in the areas of reading, math, and science. If students do not reach proficiency in these areas (as measured by state testing), the schools then receive a “needs improvement” score. There are two other scores “corrective action” and “restructuring”. If a school district has been identified as unsuccessful (by receiving one of the above scores) then the students may transfer out of the school.
Parents now have information pertaining to each school district’s performance on state exams. They can use this information to determine what school district they want their child to attend. School districts that meet the new federal standards may have an influx of students while low performing schools may loose many of their students. This presents challenges for both types of school districts. Administrators and school boards are responsible for hiring highly qualified teachers. Principals have to reorganize and design their schools in order to meet the new education guidelines. They also are responsible for implementing research-based curriculum in the classrooms. Also, principals are responsible for ensuring that teachers use research based teaching methods. This includes providing training for teachers in research based teaching methods. Superintendants must ensure that paraprofessionals are highly qualified. Also, “superintendants must oversee and evaluate training for personnel in research-based methods and curricula,” (Whitney). Superintendants may have changing student populations as test scores and school report cards are made available to the public. They must be prepared to meet the challenges presented with fluctuating student populations. B. Benefits
One benefit of NCLB legislation is that teachers must now be highly
NCLB legislation changed education in the United States. Schools, teachers, administrators, and even paraprofessionals are now responsible for ensuring that every student is proficient in the areas of reading, math, and science. If students do not reach proficiency in these areas (as measured by state testing), the schools then receive a “needs improvement” score. There are two other scores “corrective action” and “restructuring”. If a school district has been identified as unsuccessful (by receiving one of the above scores) then the students may transfer out of the school.
Parents now have information pertaining to each school district’s performance on state exams. They can use this information to determine what school district they want their child to attend. School districts that meet the new federal standards may have an influx of students while low performing schools may loose many of their students. This presents challenges for both types of school districts. Administrators and school boards are responsible for hiring highly qualified teachers. Principals have to reorganize and design their schools in order to meet the new education guidelines. They also are responsible for implementing research-based curriculum in the classrooms. Also, principals are responsible for ensuring that teachers use research based teaching methods. This includes providing training for teachers in research based teaching methods. Superintendants must ensure that paraprofessionals are highly qualified. Also, “superintendants must oversee and evaluate training for personnel in research-based methods and curricula,” (Whitney). Superintendants may have changing student populations as test scores and school report cards are made available to the public. They must be prepared to meet the challenges presented with fluctuating student populations. B. Benefits
One benefit of NCLB legislation is that teachers must now be highly