Current Issue #2

Article Title: NCLB Confidential
Source Edutopia
Link; http://www.edutopia.org/nclb-confidential

by Roberta Furger


Submitted by Allyson McDowell


NCLB confidential talks about bringing parents and better teachers together to address standards based testing. Awareness has not been increased despite the numerous analytical criticism and defenses because the key points have been ignored.

Important aspects that need immediate action
How can we get parents more involved not only in the day-to-day happenings but in the restructuring? Will there be appropriate professional development for the teachers. States have yet to work on a plan to make sure that poor and minority students get an experienced teacher to teach them. Schools are still testing and retesting trying to reach these laudable goals set by NCLB mandates and teaching the test.

Title 1 funding is the new whip which comes with a huge price when schools collect over $500,000.00. schools must pay for program outreach for parents in the form of math and reading workshops and teachers are expected to make home visits. Teachers also no longer have privacy as schools must disclose the educational background to the parents.

Some school districts have embraced this trend and seem to have found a way to work it out so may be other states should look at their example. There are several groups who are working with schools and parents to understand the provisions and implications of the NCLB act.