Building on the Values of No Child Left Behind

Eric Smith:

Last week, the nation's top public school officials gathered in Washington, D.C. for the annual legislative conference of the Council of Chief State School Officers.

The hot topic, unsurprisingly, was the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), which recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary. Several attendees -- charged with implementing the law in their respective states -- have applied for federal waivers from this law.

Some school officials have found it difficult to meet the law's standards requiring that every student -- even those that are poor or in minority groups -- make progress each year.

NCLB might need some tinkering. As the discussion about reauthorization continues, it's vital for students and the future of this country that the core principles of accountability, transparency and equality be preserved.

The George W. Bush Institute recently released ten "principles" that serve as guidance for state accountability. These principles show how to build on the foundation established by NCLB and then further improve the key areas of standards, student groups, parental choice, and college and career readiness.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at April 6, 2012 5:44 AM
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