The No Child Left Behind Act - Two Years Later
President Bush recently celebrated the two year anniversary of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, the first comprehensive education reform in a generation. The legislation was approved with broad bipartisan support, and has already had a tremendous impact on our education system. It has also been criticized by opponents as, among other things, inadequately funded, requiring too many tests of students, and asking teachers to update their qualifications. These criticisms are the result of both misinformation and misunderstanding.
Since 2001, when NCLB was first introduced, federal education funding has increased by 48 percent. That increase includes an additional $1 billion in Title 1 funding for disadvantaged students, $138 million for reading programs, and $1 billion for special education. In fact, so much federal money has been sent to the states that the Department of Education recently said it's not being spent. As of December 11, 2003, nearly $6 billion in funding remained unspent. Those who argue the funding isn't there are directly contradicted by the facts.
A primary goal of NCLB was to tie federal education funding to results and accountability at the local level. As an important shareholder in our nation's education system, the federal government is entitled to expect some measurable return on its investment. The best way to find out how well students are doing is through testing. There is evidence that the general public supports this. In a national survey recently conducted on behalf of Americans for Better Education (<www.bettered.org>), those polled were asked which they thought was a bigger problem, students taking too many tests or students making it through school without learning to read. Of those surveyed, 77 percent said it's a larger problem if students are passed without knowing how to read, while 18 percent said too many tests was the bigger problem.
Another key component of NCLB is providing parents with more information about their children's teachers. This is basic information every parent is entitled to and should expect. The Highly Qualified Teachers requirements in NCLB asked each state to come up with a set of qualifications that all teachers must meet. It also asked that parents be informed when a teacher has not met them. Most teachers are likely in compliance with their states' new requirements, or will be through simple classes or continuing education of their own. What's important is that every student in every school in every city in every state is being taught by someone who is qualified to be there.
The NCLB Act was approved with one critical goal in mind - giving our children the highest quality education possible. Two years later, it's getting the job done.
