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What the No Child Left Behind law means for your child


By GreatSchools Staff




The Focus of the Debate

NCLB's advocates say the landmark law holds schools accountable, empowers parents and is helping to close the achievement gap in America's schools.

Many critics, including those who agree with the law's goals, argue that it is a "one-size-fits-all" approach to education that overemphasizes testing and doesn't provide enough money to schools to achieve success.

As stricter testing requirements and penalties have taken effect, several states have rebelled, challenging the law in legislatures and the courts. In response, the U.S. Department of Education has given greater latitude to some districts and states in satisfying the law's provisions. That, in turn, has drawn criticism that the federal government has gone too far and weakened the law so much that it can't achieve its goals.

For parents trying to figure out how NCLB affects their children, it can be tough to keep up with the fast-moving developments. Here's a primer:

NCLB, Your Child and Your School

The law may help your child in two ways:


But your child and your school may not receive the full benefits if you don't ask for them. The U.S. Department of Education has neither the personnel nor the budget to make sure that all of the nation's public schools comply with NCLB's complicated regulations. Education officials have said from the start that the key to enforcement would be parents who pressure schools to give their children the options provided by the federal law.

Comments from readers

"This law is very stupid. Smart kids can't learn anything, and special ed kids take years to learn. Causing the smart kids not to get educated properly and not succeed in the real world. There is a thing called being HELD BACK a few years. It won't hurt anyone I don't think. "
"The problem does not entirely lie with the school system. Parents are directly involved in the education of their children. The dilemma in Kentucky and perhaps in the United Stated is that parents are paid for "stupid" children through the Social Security Administration. Many parents in Kentucky earn a living through their children; fighting to keep their children "stupid". Children are coached to act ignorant and anti-social in school because they are momÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s little income generator. DonÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t you get what you pay for? What would happen if families were paid for children who do well in school? The results would be shocking! "
"No Child Left Behind does absolutely nothing for the child. It is all about political control and strengthening the income venues for the family of George W. Bush. How did our society manage for all these years without Federal Intereference in our children's education. NCLB violates the right of every American in free choice of education. My son came home from work to be informed by his six year old child that he had been through a Sex education class in Kindergarten. The world is filled with sex craze and fails to educate society on the fact that Parents have the rigth to choose when and where their children will be introduced to Sex Education. Sick Perverts harm innocent children, and the Federal Government supports these actions by refusing to wake up and smell the coffee. Allow the states to set standards and allow parents to control their child/childrens education. The Federal Governent needs to step back and abolish NCLB and restore trust in public education and allow parents to choose. Every child deserves quality education not a test to say he or she is literate. After all some of our highest officials and most successful business personnel never finished elementry school and they made major impacts on our world. Stop trying to compete with thirdworld countries who force their children to attend school ungodly hours, and refuse to allow their children to be children. I am oppose to NCLB and strongly disagree that it improves educational standards. As we all may agree 'The proof is in the picture". If this is true then why are drop out rates higher, unemployment out the roof and poverty continually on the rise. Abolish NCLB write to your officials in the state and federal levels. Remember you only get one chance to educate your child and you must make the right decision or the child will bear longterm difficulties. "
"My wife is studying to become a teacher, and has been subbing in the public schools in our area. Both of us moved from different states. However, I went to school in this area as a child, and so many things have changed. She just commented to me a child in her class told her that the school doesn't have money for textbooks so they just watch a lot of movies.... keep in mind our schools in the area are struggling with academic testing. I was shocked that a few weeks ago she told me that students are not allowed to take books home, such as their English / Math / etc. Can this be fair? I mean how can the state and government have so much to say in raising our children in our homes, yet when they are in their hands to do what we entrust them to do, they have failed in meeting the bare minimum. Teachers do not have the support of administration, they don't have the tools that they need to facilitate a great learning experience. Yet we somehow think that miraculously ki! ds will graduate and succeed through the efforts of our public schools. What will it take to realize that the system is still broken, and do something that will fix it. Rather than continuing on with a system that has proven itself faulty. Why are people spending their money to learn how to educate children when they are limited to the decisions made by our government. One would see it absurd to have a chef trying to decide the proper procedure for a surgery on a person. But we think it's completely normal for people who are not educated in this area to make the decisions that affect so many. I wish I could do more in helping our children to excel in life. It will only result in a brighter future. "
"I am a single parent with a high school aged child that does not quite fit into the standard school criteria. What I mean by that is due to some medical issues school is a real struggle for him. He is smart and polite. He does not get into trouble except for homework and attendance issues. We have done everything we can to remedy the problems, but we have found ourselves in court for truancy issues.I believe that every child should graduate and go on to college, that is the only way they will be able to make it in the world. I have read alot of the post on here and I personally know that it makes it hard on everyone involved when children of such mixed ranges, of learning abilities, are all expected to make it in classrooms together. I have looked and looked for alternatives, but I can not afford homeschooling, private school, or online school. My child does not fit and I am being threatened with the possibility of losing him to state custody and jailed myself. We live in a ! school system that I actually moved to Wilson County, Tn. to have my children in. My last child to have not completed school yet and this has been a nightmare. I believe every child should not be left behind but I believe we need alternatives to the " 8-3' classrooms, that everyone can afford, be approved for or not be frightened of being removed from their family and home. There are states that have public online schools, tuition free, that allow a child to work at there pace, they have tutoring available as all the other help that a child needs. The ones that work at an excelled pace have plenty of challenges and do not have to wait as do the ones that need more time. If anyone out there knows any info on school programs, alternatives, laws etc.. that may help myself and others that could use the information I would really appreciate it. I think we all need to realize every child no matter the situation, should have every opportunity to be their best. The schools should ! help us accomplish that, not punish us for being different. "
"I'm a single parent (father of two boys ) I have taken them out of public schools, and place them in a private school , is there any grants are funds to assist with tuition in texas. Thank you! "
"ANY act passed by George W Bush is bound to fail. It doesn't matter what it is. "
" will helps people to become aware about this matter.. "
"I see a lot of complains, what I don't understand is why aren't parents helping with their children that are struggling with their school work? Why are YOU as the parent not tutoring your own child. Schooling starts at home, and as a parent you are your child's teacher. If, you child isn't doing well in school, blame the parent not the teacher or the school. Keep up with your kids work. It's your job, the teacher is there to teach. It's your job to make sure your child is learning. "
"First of all, I read to my children every night and go over thier home work and do extra educational games with them daily. I also take them to museums and libraries, I have two twin daughters and one of them has a learning disability and she is delayed more than her sister, the school is giving me a hard time to get her properly tested, so i can place her where she needs to be, so before you start defending schools, sometimes it can be difficult due to the fact that they laid off many teacher aides, tutoring help,extracurricular activities, and other educational programs that can be the cause for all these children being left behind...yes a parent is a child's first teacher, however, they do need to go to school to learn a whole lot more and how can they when schools are so overcrowded and some teachers only care about their paycheck and not the kids. "
"Our schools are teaching to the low-middle. They don't want anyone to "feel bad", so everything is dummied down. The learning disabled kids are thrown into the mix, and things are dummied down even more. We can't teach to the high end or above average kids - it would make the other kids feel bad. As for kids who don't do their work - well, it must be the teacher's fault. Sure, let's blame the educated adult for not being entertaining enough - not the 14 year old kid who would rather go home and play video games. And, to top it off, let's allow the parents to come and complain about the teacher who Does hold kids accountable for their learning - we have no right ot make those kids feel bad, that's wrong. Maybe Jr. just had a bad day. Give him another chance. Our schools are turning into a joke. No child left behind? We are dragging them behind the wagon and telling them to keep up. Cut the rope and teach the kids who actually are there to learn - teach to a higher level, so we can compete globally. Hold people accountable for their actions - isn't that what happens in the real world? Do you blame your boss because you did an incompetent job that day? How long would you have your job? How employable do you think half these kids are going to be? "
"I called my daughters high school when the school year started about my daughter having a chronic health problem, they sent me to her counselor, I spoke with the counselor about how my daughter was unable to get from her locker on the other side of the school from where her classes are and still be on time. She acted as if she could care less, and more or less told me that wasn't her problem, that I should talk to the school nurse, so she sent me to the school nurse, I told all this to the school nurse, she looked up my daughters health record and then said she would notify each teacher. Now months later into the school year my daughter has been suspended for excessive tardies after they were already notified that she has a health problem, she is only tardy by less than a minute to class, yet I get a very uncaring call from the vice principle that they are suspending her due to the tardies, I argued with the vice principle that she has a health issue and that I disagree with! their punishing her because of a health problem which causes the tardies, she didn't care! I called back to contest this, and still haven't received a call back! My daughter has asked on several occasions for help and makeup work; very few of her teachers accomodate her, so she is falling behind in English and History, she is very smart and could be an honors student if she could just get some help! It's not her fault she has this problem, but they treat her as if she is just being lazy and insubordinate, in fact one of her teachers put that she is insubordinate on her record, my daughter is anything but; she is very quiet! I have called the school district on this whole matter and am still waiting for a reply. It is so frustrating for a student with a health problem, who is already falling behind to then be suspended for not being able to meet their standards, that just causes her to fall farther behind and she has become depressed over it because she feels hopeless! I'm ! sure it's a great school if your one of their "cookie cutter" ! students, but if you need a little extra help or are not one of the fittest forget it!!! I am totally unhappy with this school and their unfair treatment of my daughter! And I plan to fight them on this, even if I need to get a lawyer, I have the backing of my daughters physician who was absolutely livid when I told her this! My daughter is being "Left Behind and I wonder what am I paying taxes for? For my daughter to be harrased and left behind! How does this law fit in for my daughters situation? "
"I am a junior in high school and I have to say that it is the parents who do not know what their child is doing in school. As a high school student, I had a choice whether or not to sign up for a regular English class or a college level English class: AP Literature. I did not want the extra work load due to my other honor classes so I chose to take Regular English. My fellow classmates are soooo lazy in there, sooooo very lazy. If there ever was a camera in the class room people, and parents could see and HEAR what their children are talking about, they would be amazed. My classmates are lazy and do not do their work. My teacher has only given 2 assignments that must be completed at home this year. It was an essay and a story that had to be written. For the story, she gave us 2 class periods to work on it. 2 class periods is about 110 minutes! (It's been about 2 months since the beginning of the school year and having only 2 assignments is so nice!). There are many people th! at have not turned in their essay. She has given us plenty of time to finish it. Many of my classmates always make excuses such as, "Oh, there was a game last friday that lasted until midnight" Also, many students are not utilizing in school free tutoring done my both students and staff. I go to a "good" public high school with good teachers- I think it is the students fault for their grade. Though I have to admit that there are some teachers who teach at a higher level like for example, AP Physics that just do not know how to teach or some teachers who do not want to help you. I have encountered only 2 teachers in my school district that way. Even if they do not know how to teach or do not want to help you, there are other physis, chemistry, math teachers that can help you at school. I am in Honors Math and I struggle in math. I aim to get a B in the class. In my school there is a tutoring center- basically a classroom for math every single day monday-friday during school ! hours. This tutoring center has a staffed math teacher. During! my lunch hour I go to tutoring every day and do my math homework there so I can ask questions. I told some of my classmates about it, but they refuse to go there. Sometimes I am the only one there, so that means I get the math teacher all to myself! :) When I asked one of my classmates on the due date of an assignment if she had finished her essay, she said no. I asked her if she was worried and she said no. I asked her if her parents care. And she says that they will be happy if she gets a "C". She told me if she were to get a B they would be so happy. Then I asked her a week later if she had finished it. She said she had the "rough draft completed" but that she wanted, "someone to proof read it" If your child is not getting As or Bs in high school their is something wrong. It is too easy. Teachers even make "practice tests" in which you take a test they make on Some of the questions are the exact same questions on the test! Other teachers just make a list of concepts that you need to study for. This is my long rant and anger about my lazy classmates. The reason why the US is behind in education: -Parents do not care about their child's education OR are unaware about what is happening in school -Parents have to realize that they must have to tell their children that they have to do their homework first -if they are in sports, it is education first, sports 2nd -do not call or text your child while they are at school (this is very common) -make sure they get enough sleep -make sure they eat breakfast -make sure they go to school every day even if they "do not feel well" because that probably means they did not get enough sleep In countries like Japan, children do this all on their own. I go to a good public school though and my version of things may not apply to other public schools out of my area. Sorry for grammar errors and spelling errors- Today is friday and I am too tired to check it. "
"am interested in this law. it has intrigued me "
"I'd say if you want good education go to another country. Finland is number 1 in education in the world. Here in America we are ranked 16th I believe. I asked a foreign exchange student from Sweden what he thought about schooling in America and he said it was really easy compared to school in sweden. "
"No child left behind is a joke if you have a disabled child were I live.I have a child who is disabled and all we have are teachers who don't know what they are doing.They are fresh out of collage and have no special traning.How can you teach special need children if you have no traning?There needs to be an up date to this law.With more premature babies living there are more children with special needs.This country needs to show the world if we can save babies we can also meet there need for an education.As a parent with a special needs child my child should have the opportunities to do the best she can in school. "
"no child left behind is a joke i was living in fla when i was 16 and they wouldnt help me they tried to put me in drop out prevention and i wasnt a drop out just had really bad grades "
""no student left behind" is a joke you have average and below average students mixed with high achieving students. The high achieving students are denied the higher progressive level of education.Teachers are geared toward satisfying the goals to keep their jobs. "
"I believe it dumming down are children in public schools. I have a son that is way to smart for his class. He is in the 4th grade this year. He finishes his work in class, which class has to stay at a level at which everyone is at so they pass the test. So he is finished early and gets bored. Then gets into trouble or disciplined, which if they taught by individual growth then my child would be at a normal level of learning. Mostly if they didn't have to stop and teach english to those that need that teaching. Well my child needs teaching too. "
"I want any parent to call me out if I am wrong. My child is being left being because of a "special needs child". My sons first year in kindergarten was hell. The mother never told the school of his problem. He was violent. He urinated on other boys is in the restroom, bite, pinched, puched, stabbed with a pencil I can go on. (he got an aide) Needless to say I requested my child not be in a class with this child. I was up at the school helping an knew what was going on. He had turned his attention the the adults. He attacked the teacher and princpals. Well this year 4th grade my child is in the same class with him. School started on August 15 and by the 2nd week of school this child has been sent to alternative school for a fit,for three days: in which my child had to PUSH the button to call the princpal to the room. This child got an aid in kindergarten and has had one since, but the start of this year he has not had one. Our Board of Education has been notified _ no! response. This child is smart, has emotional issues! Am I wrong in wrong in wondering why this chid cannot stay at the alternative school year around???????? "
"My child has been choiced 2 years into mckean high school and now they said she can't come back. I strongly dislike the school that is in her feeder pattern, they don't have the classes that she needs in her career pathway and I don't that this is a good idea for her. I wish this law could help me get her back into Mckean "
"I know that children are developing a great aptitude in applying themselves in achieving academic skills. I believe that a comprehensive plan that shows insight in developing each individuals own process of learning, will benefit all of us with a plan that shows clear, concise and comprehensive knowledge of a conceptual framework that can establish the principles of higher academic achievement. "
"i just read this article of "nclb". Is there no current information as of this date? If so, is this info. from 2010' accurate and updated? "
"Why is it that kids are doing better in scool in third world countries (India, China, Central America and others)than they are doing here in the US with very little supplies,(computer, books) not to mention tutoring. Does the goverment have programs where parents can send there kids over seas to boarding school? I have tryed tutoring, but as one of the comments posted here, it is a one size fits all program. I have 3 kids in different grades. It has been a sconstan battle every year finding"
"As a sixth grade teacher teaching in a school taken over by the state because of low test scores, I can tell you what NCLB means: teaching to the test. I do it everyday for six months before the test. If I don't, I lose my job. Period."
"can a student be failed in school if the school follows the no child left behind program?"
"Do all children require tutoring?"
"5/2011: I have volunteered at a local middle school during my lunch for break for many years. The sixth graders this year were the first to be in school solely under the NCLB laws from grade 1. I am worried. They do NOT know how to play or interact. They do know how to fill out worksheets and take tests. When this crew and the following children graduate, corporations are going to have to dramatically restructure how they do business - no one will understand team work or how to relate to people."
"How does a tutoring company get approved by their state NCLB"
"Some students NEED to be left behind in order to get caught up with work they don't actually know. If a child fails a class, they should have to repeat it. By pushing them forward, regardless of whether or not they know the material, you're only hurting the child. How can they be expected to continue through 10th, 11th, and 12th grade math if they never truly learned 9th grade math? As a result, they do worse. Then they end up being ignorant, uneducated adults who can't spell or use proper grammar like the majority of people in this forum."
"You need to give us a simple, basically stated one or two sentences that explains exactly what it is and what it does. This is too confusing."
"this my help me i have 6 childern they treat them awful. these kids all have problems from home life,in the pass. but the way the schools in middlesboro ky bell county dont treat kids day somebody will help me get these kids what they need and that a fair chance to get their education."
"My son does not qualify for NCLB due to my income. I make o.k. money but it's not great. I can't afford the $2000.00 that a private tutoring company wanted. The NCLB law is actually No Poor Child Left Behind. Meanwhile the middle class children are totally forgotten. Transferring to another school isn't an option really either. As you have read they are not any better. there are more failing schools than passing ones."
"As a future educator, I've been trying to learn about what's going on today. What are the problems with education that may stand in my way when after I obtain my Bachelors. The big problem with NCLB is not that it makes teachers 'lazy,' but it doesn't allow them to conduct a classroom in their own effective way. NCLB obviously forces teachers to 'teach to the test,' which is wrong. To get those higher test scores, those graduation rates, and to get that federal money for the school, teachers are forced to focus on getting students to pass a test, instead of focusing on actual LEARNING. Contrary to popular belief, learning is not accurately measured by test scores. Classroom educators have a huge impact on effective learning, but it is often being hindered by laws which reduce them to federal puppets. These people have obviously gone through years of schooling and by the states standards achieved the required degrees to become educators. Let them have a chance at teac! hing, and if certain teachers don't live up to the expectations, take action against those individuals."
"I am amazed by many of the comments on here about the NCLB program. There is only one that I have seen that stands out to me of the many that I read. That is from a teacher. I have two children who have ADHD and I grew up with ADD as well. Yet I know how to function in eveyday life and have an education and am in fact continuing my education as I write this. My children are bright students, whom with a little help beginning at home, make wonderful grades. I do think that the NCLB program was founded on great ideas, yet needs some 'tweeking' to really help the children. I don't agree that teachers are to blame for this problem. How can they handle already over-crowded classrooms and children with disabilities that go beyond even ADHD. My nephew had Autism and he can be a handful one on one more or less with a classroom of 30 children. Our teachers are doing the best they can with what they are given. I KNOW that these children can learn and have the right to learn just as muc! h as the next child, but it has to begin at home, then the government has to provide funding to get more teachers into the schools so that they are better equipped to teach these children. If that means letting them be in classes with 'normal' children for part of the day, then when it comes times for lessons to be done taking them to an area where they can get the help that they need and teachers can see to the needs of others, why is this such a problem? It seems to me that it would benefit the children with extra needs as well to get that attention that they cannot get in a regular classroom. Well that being said, no group is ever going to be completely happy, but the real problem is that teachers are already overloaded with over-crowded classrooms and not enough help for that. They are teachers...not superheros. If everyone stops for a moment to think about it...what happened to the classrooms of our childhood? Seems to me that there are many bright, educated people fro! m our generation out in the world today, many who had learning! disabilites growing up. It worked fine then, why will it not work now? Use that funding to pay teachers, build classrooms, provide the tools that they students need and I am willing to bet anything there will be an improvement seen all around!"
"my son is a speachels needs kid and his teachers dont want to teach him or have him in school they want me to be with him at all times. they say they can not control him .i thought they are train to b speachels ed teacher?? "
"You people are talking about how students are being 'left behind' but its become pretty obvious that most of YOU must have been left behind as well once I looked at your copius amounts of grammatical and spelling errors."
"People its your STATES and DISTRICTS who are failing you, not NCLB. NCLB was not designed and implemented to show up at your door with milk and cookies and hold little Johnnys hand as he colorbooked his way through school. It was designed to crack the whip on the horribly ineffecient STATES and DISTRICTS who were sucking the DOE dry, year after year, decade after decade, generation after generation. If you arent getting satisfaction, your STATE and your DISTRICT are failing you and your child. Do something about it! "
"The Government needs to look at parents as well as teachers for under performing students! As an educator I have worked very hard to get students invested in learning. When that student goes home and there is no one checking on them to do their homework or talk to them about a recent test then all of my work is for not! I have even been told by a parent that it is not their job to help with their child's education, it was my job. When the home influence of the student does not match the school influence students will get confused and do what they want. That being said there are many students who will achieve despite this and there are some students who will not listen to teachers or parents. The government is only looking a a fraction of everything and they need to open their eyes to the entire picture."
"The law did not make teachers lazier, no one can make me be what I don't want to be. Is just that the law brought up more work, and they are were and will be too lazy to do it."
"If our students are doing so badly compared to other countries around the world...why aren't we implementing some of the things that are working for them??? Take the best of the techniques from all the top countries and put them together to create a NEW program that's completely different...has the government thought of that? Or is that like a man asking for directions? "
"When I was little I was told that I shouldn't tell the Dr. how I felt, because he was the Dr. Later on I learned, that the Dr. knew about illness, where, when, How, what and why?, but he didn't know me, and how I feel, I just look sick to him. NCLB, comes as a bridge between parents and teachers and students, who knows a kid better than Mom or Dad, the way he/she learns performs ect. As a teacher I become the resource to polish each childs resilience. I beg your pardon, but the law well used reaches the expectations. each student is an investment to society, and their success and earnings in it is our prize and pride."
"There seems to be a wide range of comments derived from not fully understanding the concept of NCLB and other comments reveal a total lack of understanding about the entire educational process and how it relates to our children. How embarrassing for us. It's no wonder... "
"This iniciative really sucks!! gives the teachers the chance to be lazier and for a good reason instead of being worried about the student learning they are more worried about test scores, well my daughter excelled in her grades but lots of complaints about the teacher cause she asked too many questions and didn't let the other students the point where teacher asked me to take her to the psychologist because she does not let the other students learn and gets bored with school topics...Well if you kid falls behind or excells this program is not for him or her seems to be good just for average students and lazy teachers"
"My fifth grader is not benefiting from this 'No Child Left Behind' thing. I recieved a multidiscplinary report from his school and he is ranging from 1 year to 3 years behind in all his subjects. Math is the worst at a 1.9 grade level. I think that 'no child left behind' is a joke and not at all effective. If all parents would decide to homeschool their children, which I will be doing this coming school year, we will raise a new standard for education in this country."
"the no child left behind act has did just that my child is being left behind "
"I am a 16 year old in Cheyenne Wyoming and quite frankly I am appaulled at the ignorance of some of the people who have left comments on here. I am reading this document for a school research project and after reading it, I decided to read a few of the arguments concerning this law. First off, my mother is heavily associated with a program called the ARC, it specializes in helping and teaching people with mental disabilities anywhere from the age of 16 to 21... It is completely voluntary for the people who need help and currently the ARC is under staffed because of the amount of people VOLUNTARILY joining the program. It is a very social program and a complete non-profit organization, it specializes in helping these people get jobs, and become social and teaches them how to cope with their dissabilities. Now obviously if alot of people are comming to the program VOLUNTARILY, they WANT to be singled out and need that extra push! I personally have met and befriended many of t! he clients and they are now leaving the ARC in much better condition than they were previous to joining, obviously singling them out helped!!! Now I am not going to pretend that singling these students out isn't going to make them feel disjoined from society, because odds are it will, but in the long run, if these students are properly taught not only in the classroom but in in their homes, they will be more social and more likely to get a job, make friends, and succeed! I am also not trying to single out specifically mentally disabled children because this law targets wealth, ethnicity, and language as well. All of which sadly to say do affect the opportunities of their childrens education. I am not particularly in accordance with this law because it does restrict the acceleration of other children who tend to learn at a quicker pace but i do agree in two particular areas, wealth and ethnicity. I would surely hope that never ever would wealth be a contributing factor fo! r a students education, through this law, free tutoring and af! terschool study groups will be employed and these will hopefully take away the burden of having to pay for a better education for your children if they are struggling. If your children apply themselves then there will never be a need for exceptional wealth what with free tutoring, free study groups, free library access, and free scholorships to get into a good college. Also ethnicity should not ever effect how a child is taught unless they have language troubles, but otherwise all schools and people for that matter should disregard race when it comes to education. With luck the Obama administration will work out the few kinks in this law. This law has great potential for example futher democratizing the U.S. education, raising test scores, and giving all children equal opportunities to succeed in the future. After all, we are the future rulers of this country. :)"
"I have a grandson with autism, apraxia of speech and sensory integration disorders and the school has not provided a special education teacher who is highly qualified under NCLB, has not provided sign language instruction by a certified teacher nor provided an interpreter in Jefferson County, Kentucky. NCLB is not working for our disabled children. The states and counties should be ashamed. A child with a learning disabilities enter the school system behind and they never catch up and the Kentucky Department of Education is doing nothing about it. There are no cases in Kentucky where the parents have prevailed in a due process hearing and they are not even bothering to file those cases. Grandmother in Kentucky "
"ya... no child left behind...but mine.... "
"this thing needs to be done away with. a simple test on the computer does not ensure that the child knows the work. they could guess the whole way through and still pass. and the two months used to prepare for the test are two months that the kids could be learning something. its such a waste of time. they actually teach you how to pass the test, not whats on it. not mention this doesnt help the smart kids. the way public schools work needs to be done away with also.i went to public school my whole life and my sister is a teacher in the public school system and it keeps getting more ridiculous every year. some parents send their young kids to school knowing NOTHING; not even simple morals and values like sit in your chair, be good, and listen when the teacher is speaking. the older kids act as if they DON'T WANT TO LEARN. they are nothing but a disturbance and it doesnt help the kids who actually want to learn. i think public schools need to be more like private schools. if ! the child is acting as if they dont want to be there and if they are disturbing the class and making it harder for the teacher to teach and other kids to learn, then the school should have a right to put them out. there is no need for them to be there. trust me, i know. some class periods the teacher would spend the entire time dealing with one bad kid and the rest of us wouldnt learn anything for that class period. and who is complaining that teachers need to do their job? teachers are there to teach, not babysit your child. but thats what it seems like parents expect these days. and also, do you know how hard and frustrating it is to teach when you have kids who act like monsters in your class? you have no idea. thats why people dont even want to be teachers anymore. the kids are horrible. the nclb act isnt going to help anything. the problems need to fixed at home first. raise the kids so they act like they have some sense and so they have the desire to learn. kids dont ! care about school anymore, thats the problem that needs to be ! fixed."
"I believe the comment CRAIG MICHAELS left was by far the most ignorant of any. Its very sad to think that he believes this is actually generally about race. I happen to be an African-American person from a low-income family that attended a title 1 school when I was younger. From grades K-12 I was ALWAYS in the top 5% of my class. I was not upset with what he said but I want to merely point out his ignorance. As far as the NCLB I grew up as a very gifted student and always had problems with my test scores reflecting my exceptional work in the classroom, with that being said I completley disagree with having a cumulative test for children under the high school level. I read a previous comment about someone feeling that their special needs child should be in a classroom with other children and not be singled out. If the roles were reversed I think that he/she probably would complain if their child was not offered special attention for their special needs. I do know that sometim! es unqualified teachers are placed in those positions, but in most cases those positions don't require the same level of education as general students becuase most special needs children are not on those levels of learning. That is just logical to me and obviously to others. I personally in high school would be very offened if I had classes with someone with special needs. Not because of they are different physically but because we would be on two totally different spectrums of learning and that would hold me back in a class that I was not already being challenged in. That is exactly what special needs classes are for to give them direct attention that is very much needed to cope with their learning abilities. I think you should be very thankful! My high school did not offer classes for the gifte students that werent being challenged so its not always about the latter on the learning spectrum. I do believe some teachers work very hard to educate students only to have it slapped back in their face with students that dont put forth and effort, but on the same token their are teachers that are just as lazy as the next teenage boy. I came from a very small town and went to a title 1 school and gradauted in the top 5%, but becasue the requirements were lowered to meet state goals I SUFFERED when I got to college. I had to work twice as hard as the next student because not because I was dumb or didnt try but because what I was taught in high school other students learned in high school. SO overall this NCLB needs some alterations!"
"thank you very much for this information. Now, Could you please let me know how i can apply for this program for my son."
"Being in the school system i know first hand how sad this act turned out to be. Though intentions where good, and the grade averages have gone up, looking good to the government 'on paper' this is due to the ' Dumbed down test' The so called stricter testing requirements and penalties they believe to be a direct result to our ' only slightly rising grade averages.' I on the other hand are forced to take those tests not because my school believes its to measure my knowledge or to find out in what spots i need help, but so they can get there so beloved grants. Since the world only turns as we know it because of money and how much we have in our pockets it brought out the WORST in our school system. New younger arrogant money hungry teachers are being taught the bare minimum my thoughts are to save money training them, i know being a teacher isn't the best paying job and i admire the few teachers who do it because they enjoy it but we should put more care in the people we hir! e to teach our kid don't you think, background checks are great but what about the character but there integrity once being put in a working environment with one of my teachers ' I will call this Teacher IT, because i'm childish' I found out jest how little they think of us. IT not only ignored my advise and warnings putting fishing nets we were getting paid to assist by water in danger because even though this was ITS first day on the job i an i grew up doing it IT refused to listen to me because i was a student and it was not my place to be telling him what to do, long aggravating story short IT was the cause of a 29000 dollar loss in the fishing inderesty, my mom being the boss fired him for his negligence . Thinking it was my fault IT and his wife 'bolth is my school system' made my life miserable. Im now in Home schooling and half to say i love it the online teachers are helpful and sadly pay more attention then public teachers. You get to learn at your own pase and t! hey doint depersonalize there students. I truly recommend home! school. The really sad thing is that i respected IT, so i asked my mom to hire him, and against her better judgment she did though no one ever got mad at me i feel that somehow its my fault. Thats only one of my reasons we need to not cut cost ware it counts, instead of a couple of new trees out front for the image of a happy altogether school how about some new books. I truly recommend home school, at least tell the schools and the NCLB act can sort out this pathetic act to lie to our parents. "
"I am appalled by the comments I have read, and I have only read a few. It is important to 'mix' the 'smart kids' with the 'special ed' kids. how do you suppose the special ed kids feel when they are singled out? How else will we work on accepting others for who they are.. we need to be proactive in treating oppressed groups, through inclusion and acceptance, not separation and aggression. Also, if you really 'would have killed someone to start a program' to challenge you, then why didnt you challenge YOURSELF and engage yourself deeper into the materials at hand? I disagree in your blaming of the schools. America is in dire need of educating those who are labeled with having difficulties in schools. Look at the drop-out rates-they are high, look at the rates of those who can't read-they are high. If we focus on those that are smart too much, we will continue to have higher rates in the areas above. I do think there is a type of responsibility to provide students with challenging curiculum, yet, teachers are unaware of students' needs, unless they voice them directly. I suppose you did not, otherwise your teacher would have given you more assignments to 'challenge' you. Step outside of your box for a moment and have compassion."
"When many people think of having 'no child left being,' they focus completely on the kids who are having difficulties in school. I am not arguing that those students should not get the help they deserve; it is very important for them to be taken care of. However, by not creating programs for the kids who do 'get it' or are 'gifted,' they are being left behind. I just graduated and I would have killed for someone to start a program to challenge me. I hardly ever had to try in school, i just got left in the position I was in. No one trying to improve me, challenge me, or teach me. America is killing intellectualism by not also providing help to the students who need to be challenged. Many students in my graduating class were in the same situation as myself. The system needs to start creating programs that aid both sides of the spectrum. No wonder American school systems are so far behind much of the world's...they do not push students to excel, only to be good enough ! to pass. "
"That is not true both my children have been placed on a long wait list so it really is some children wont get left behind. Mind you both children have struggled with math all there life and never received any help!!!!"
"the overview for no child left behind and how do it help the child?"
"they are still puttinq kids out of school & not even carinq abt weather or not they graduate!"