ShareThisBy THOMAS HARGROVE and GUIDO H. STEMPEL III
Scripps Howard News Service
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Nearly two-thirds of American adults want Congress to re-write or outright abolish the landmark No Child Left Behind Act that mandates nationwide testing of elementary students to determine if public schools are performing adequately.
Opposition is especially high among people most familiar with the law, according to a survey of 1,010 adults conducted by Scripps Howard News Service and Ohio University.
Controversy about the law has grown in recent months as Congress begins the debate on whether to reauthorize the measure that President Bush has touted is one of the most important achievements of his administration.
"The No Child Left Behind Act has worked for America's children and I ask Congress to reauthorize this good law," Bush urged legislators during his last State of the Union address.
But dissent against reauthorization has developed within his own party. Fifty-two Republican House members and five GOP senators are calling for a repeal of the law in favor of a more flexible system of achievement standards to be negotiated between the Department of Education and individual states.
"This expensive and largely unsuccessful legislation has broadened the scope of the federal government's role in education," Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., said while introducing his bill.
Participants in the poll were told that No Child Left Behind "requires states to test elementary students to determine if schools do a good job teaching. Critics say the law forces teachers to teach to a particular test. From everything you've heard, do you think the No Child Left Behind Act has been good for public schools or not good?"
Only about a third said they think the law has had a positive influence on public education while slightly less than half said it has had a negative impact and a fifth were undecided.
A few respondents volunteered different answers that were generally critical of the law.
"The schools should have more leeway," said the mother of two public school children from Lexington, S.C.
"It was a good theory, but the implementation has been faulty," remarked another mother with three children from Elmhurst, N.Y.
"No Child Left Behind created unfunded mandates which force teachers to teach to the test," complained a single woman from Tonopah, Nev.
"States should have more control over their education programs," said a mother from Houston, Texas.
Respondents in the poll were also asked: "Based upon everything you've heard, do you want Congress to renew the No Child Left Behind law, do you want Congress to make changes in the law or do you want Congress to cancel the No Child Left Behind law?"
Twenty-three percent said they want the law renewed in its current form, 14 percent want it abolished and 49 percent want it amended. Fourteen percent were undecided. Taken together, 63 percent want the law abolished or amended.
About three-quarters of people who said they are "very familiar" with the law also say they want it altered or abolished, compared to less than half of people who say they are "not familiar" with the measure.
Well-educated people, especially college graduates and those who've attended post-graduate schooling, are especially likely to call for changes to the law. People who have public school children at home are somewhat more likely to want the law altered or abolished than are people who don't currently have children in school.
Although much of the criticism in Congress against the current form of the law is coming from Republicans, the poll found that Democrats in the general public were more likely to want changes in the law than were Republicans.
The survey was conducted by telephone from May 6-27 among 1,010 adult residents of the United States who were selected at random. The survey was conducted by the Scripps Survey Research Center at Ohio University under a grant from the Scripps Howard Foundation.
The survey has a margin of error of about 3 percent, although the margin is somewhat higher when estimating support for the No Child Left Behind Act among different subgroups.
(Thomas Hargrove is a reporter for Scripps Howard News Service. Guido H. Stempel III is the director of the Scripps Survey Research Center.)
I agree that there should be
I agree that there should be more stipulations added to the No Child Left Behind Law. We as parents want our children to get the best education possible, regarless of race or economic status. However teaching the test is not the best way to prepare children to meet or exceed the state requirement. From the beginning of the school year the states curriculum should match or go beyond what is required. Teachers and administrators should put into place whatever is necessary to insure that students have what they need academically throughout the year to succeed. It is not in the best interest of the student to teach the test a few months or a few weeks before the required state test date. Because of the No Child Left Behind Law, some of the lower end schools in our state have improved and they continue to do so. This law has forced parents to get involved with the schools. It has helped teachers and parents to connect. Upper end schools have always had a teacher- parent bond which has lead to having more successful students. Keep No Child Left Behind. Just make it better.
Yes I agree, but just read
Yes I agree, but just read that:
"Nearly two-thirds of American adults want Congress to re-write or outright abolish the landmark No Child Left Behind Act that mandates nationwide testing of elementary students to determine if public schools are performing adequately."
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Nope...I don't agree
The first thing that should be done is to hold teachers accountable for their actions and fire them if they don't perform. There has been a large case in Upland California where an Upland Family Law Attorney helped to turn a major case of teacher neglect. The teacher actually didn't do anything but go on Youtube on her computer all day and left the 4th graders to read all day and falsified evidence.
I also agree
This is a strong argument to make. It depends on the parents. An attorney in Riverside CA just closed a case were the parents were held accountable for the child not being able to learn due to the fact the child was working mostly at night to take care of their farm.
Re NCLB
No child left behind, is a great program, but is in need of a huge overhaul. Like the above poster I agree, keep the program, but make it better!
As a teacher I sincerly
As a teacher I sincerly beleive we must go backto the basics. Teaching phonics so that thenatins childrencan read.
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It all starts with the
It all starts with the teachers look at california. Highest paid teachers and it ranks 48 in the country.
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I don't think this law is
I don't think this law is right,but can say only one thing that leave everything to the teachers,they are the responsible to teach our children and I feel they teach right,more answer can give teachers only about this law.
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I am quiet agree with you .there should be more evaluation added behind no child left behind law.In this case parents plays a great role they have to decide first.It's a great thought,but it need huge appreciation.Anyways a law can change everyone thinking towards a new revolution.For more details visit Free legal support service
Schools need to be held
Schools need to be held accountable for teaching ALL students to read, etc. -- not just those who are the "smartest" or the wealthiest. They also need to start implementing research-based practices. If NCLB is to be abolished or significantly amended, then we need to make sure that these two conditions -- of teaching ALL students,
and employing evidence-based practices -- are met... and we can't rely upon the states' dept of educations to handle that.
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how then will schools be held accountable?
Schools need to be held accountable for teaching ALL students to read, etc. -- not just those who are the "smartest" or the wealthiest. They also need to start implementing research-based practices. If NCLB is to be abolished or significantly amended, then we need to make sure that these two conditions -- of teaching ALL students, and employing evidence-based practices -- are met... and we can't rely upon the states' dept of educations to handle that.
no child left behind accountability?
Tell me, in your mind where does the accountability begin? I hear the answer all the time, it usually begins with the teachers. Well, let me tell you, there are enough problems that we ALL need to take an honest look at our system of funding and spending. People need to realize that much of our education problems come down to planning...and then funding. Don't ask how can teachers NOT be held accountable when YOU as taxpaying citizens aren't willing to fund our schools! YOU too should be held accountable for not being willing to pay so that EVERY child has an equal education!
We need to decide what we want, educated children who usually grow up to be adults who contribute to our economy, or those who fall behind and will continually draw from it. Either you pay now for early childhood programs, or you pay the BIG BUCKS later when they they end up in other state-funded systems like welfare or prison.
We need to decide who we want running our public schools as superintendents, do we want former teachers or do we want experts who know how to properly spend the money they are given. It is a tricky question, I know, I see it each and every year when money is allocated for new sod for the football field, or athletic uniforms, or new parking lots...it ticks me off that my school district does not think we can afford all-day-every-day kindergarten. We need to look and prioritize what money we have and spend it the best way possible for the future.
Our preschool, and all of the public preschools statewide, are NOT told how much funding they will have until mid to late September. We have only 64 openings in the preschool in our district and we have approximately 200 kids each year enter kindergarten. A percentage of those 64 kids receive free preschool, but it makes it difficult for parents to even plan on paying for our preschool program because they don't know if there will be an available opening for them to pay for in the fall. In recent years, each spring morning when the preschool director begins distributing enrollment packets to families of prospective preschoolers, they begin lining up before 7am for the 8:30am distribution. Unless they can afford to can enroll them in a private preschool program early in the spring before their child enters preschool in the fall, they are out of luck. It is my feeling that 4-year old preschool should be free to ALL children if their parents want to enroll them at a public preschool.
The results are that each fall I have children who enter kindergarten already reading because their parents have exposed them to books and libraries, and a host of experiences on which they build their vocabulary and one year, and many two years, of preschool. Then there are children who have not been with their peers and do not know how to interact with other kids, they do not yet know how to hold a pencil, marker, crayon or scissors--and cannot differentiate a number from a letter. There is already a wide gap in their education at 5 & 6 years old.
So, how can we possibly teach all kids all things when students begin their education with such disparities? And, explain to me how we can do it on far less money when there are Michigan school districts within 30 miles of ours who receive $9,000 per student and we receive under $6,000!
The per-student funding must become more equitable between our districts. Right now we have the rich getting richer, both in education and in their later ability to earn money, we have some poor qualifying for free headstart and other preschool programs. It leaves the middle class folks on their own and they are being squeezed tightly in the middle.
One Concerned Kindergarten Teacher
I certainly agree. I come
I certainly agree. I come from a relatively poor area and for kid's to be educated based on wealth would be a disgrace. Some of the smartest people I know grew up in the same neighborhood, and owe a lot of where they are today because they were taught properly and equally.
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Leave no child left behind act behind
I believe the goverment should give more flexibilty to the states in regard to education. As a teacher I sincerly beleive we must go backto the basics. Teaching phonics so that thenatins childrencan read. Our nation is well below many other countries in academics, especially in reading.
How can we achieve this?
As a father I noticed how his homework (he's in the 3rd grade) is really hard compared to when I was his age. I was in a private school in high school that was leaps ahead of the public school system here. Our governement needs to do something about this.
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Rigid Law Does Not Teach To All Learning Styles
As I understand it, this education law has existed for some time. The "No Child Left Behind" mandate is its current incarnation. It is clearly time to change the way it is structured, as it does not improve the education experience for all -- or even most -- kids.
I provide professional development to teachers. What I have seen as a result of this mandate is teachers teaching to the test, in a desperate effort to achieve scores and therefore assure funding for their schools. Inquiry, creativity, and approaches to teaching that address the needs of the wide variety of learning styles among children -- these are reduced or eliminated in favor of a standard that serves only a few learners. In addition, recess is reduced or eliminated to allow for more testing time. Recess is essential time for children to be outside and active, building social skills, expressing their creativity, getting fresh air, and staying fit. The other essentials that suffer? Those things that help develop thoroughly educated, well-rounded individuals such as languages, music and art.
Children are unique. Their learning styles are diverse. We cannot continue with an education mandate that establishes rigid and narrow standards.
I couldn't agree more
I couldn't agree more Marilyn, you've pretty much summed up what I was going to say. I think the No Child Left Behind Law has got to be restructured.
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Yeah this is right which has said by you. No Child Left Behind Law has got to be restructured coz many of the restrictions are behind this.
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Yeah this is right which has said by you. No Child Left Behind Law has got to be restructured coz many of the restrictions are behind this.
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NCLB
The reauthorization of No Child Left Behind is the manifest destiny of education reform. Among other things it needs to include national standards accompanied by a national assessment to measure students from all states.
A number of states administer "feel good" tests, relative to the federal tests administered by the National Assessment of Educational Progress, commonly referred to as the "nation's report card?" In 2005 Tennessee tested its eighth-grade students in math and found eighty-seven percent of students performed at or above proficient while the NAEP test indicated only 21 percent of Tennessee's eighth graders proficient in math. In Mississippi, 89 percent of fourth graders performed at or above proficient on state reading test, while only 18 percent demonstrated proficiency on the federal test. In Alabama 83 percent of fourth-grade students scored at or above proficient on the state's reading test while only 22 percent were proficient on the NAEP test. In Georgia, 83 percent of eighth graders scored at or above proficient on state reading test, compared with just 24 percent on the federal test.
Oklahoma, North Carolina, West Virginia, Nebraska, Colorado, Idaho, Virginia, and Texas were also found to be guilty as charged in the area of "truth in advertising" where their determinations for proficient didn't seem to mean what they said. The duplicitous attempts by these states to meet proficiency by 2014 to comply with the NCLB legislation has created a firestorm of demands for federal standards and defined achievement levels as the only reliable indicators of performance at Washington's disposal.
Biased poll questions?
I don't know about the rest of the poll, but the first question quoted is biased by the inclusion of a leading statement about critics' views. This question wouldn't have made it out of the gate in a first-year social science student assignment even. Google "push polling". It violates standards of survey research such as ESOMAR's http://www.esomar.org/uploads/pdf/ESOMAR_Codes&Guidelines_OpinionPolling_v5.pdf.
Judged on this alone, It looks like the "Institute" that did this poll is a sham, and the ScrippsNews papers of suspect objectivity. Kids have a hard enough time in school without being made a political football.
No Child Left Behind
There would be no need for No Child Left Behind if people would do their jobs and parent their children. I interact more with my pets than some people do with their preschoolers! Anyone can be a mother or father, but parenting requires effort. People should be held more accountable for the children they choose to bring into the world. Children should start school with “the basics†already taught by the parents. My hat is off to teachers, as they are making up for the lame parenting skills of a lot of people in this country.
"No Child Left
"No Child Left Behind.(unless you are high acheiving).In Houston ISD Schools, there is so little available in terms of space provided for the SO MANY talented children with very high scores and eagerness to learn. They end up in a lottery competing for placement in the two or three schools in the entire district that provide the atmosphere and curriculum to receive a higher education. I know this information for a fact. What I do not know is has anyone realized how many childred are put into a lottery just to attend the basic classes offered in HISD. How many classes are offered to ESL vs Vanguard/IB in HISD? Some how I do believe the motivated and future leaders of America are not being offered the same amount of space, time and education as EVERYONE else in HISD. I am sure other districts have this same issue but I can only speak for HISD as this is my childrens school district. Why is this happening? This is affecting these children in such a negative way. A lot of them fall under negative peer pressure because there are in a class with others that do not care. A lot of them just quit attending regularly because they are so BORED with the work, so they fall behind for not doing the work they could do without being taught. Things they learn in Vanguard elementary school they are having to listen to in High School regular programs unless they get into one of the three good high schools in hisd. Ohink our childre w"
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Great news
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I consider that President
I consider that President sometimes Bush publishes absurd laws and lawsprogects. I think, that first of all Bush must think about education of USA children, because their education has the less level. It's the largest problem of America.
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Well-educated people, especially college graduates and those who've attended post-graduate schooling, are especially likely to call for changes to the law. People who have public school children at home are somewhat more likely to want the law altered or abolished than are people who don't currently have children in school.
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"Well-educated people,
"Well-educated people, especially college graduates and those who've attended post-graduate schooling, are especially likely to call for changes to the law." - i disagree with you!
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What No Child Left Behind Really Does.
Whenever there is an exceptionally smart person in a school, no child left behind makes it to where that child cannot excel. It limits the schools to teach for just the test and if the student has learned what is on the test already, he/she cannot move on and learn new material. So I think that the No Child Left Behind law should be changed to allow schools to teach beyond the test, and become more influential in the student body.
so i
This makes me think of the recent story about Miss Teen South Carolina: She's probably a great test taker. When well rehearsed, she can seem to make intelligent statements. But when the moment of critical thinking arrived, she totally failed. The "great test takers" (bubble fillers) are praised and the system builds itself around this mentality. The critical thinkers, future artists, etc, are held back or ignored entirely.
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The No Child Left Behind Act that President Bush signed into law in 2002 was intended to reform Americas educational system and promised to be the answer for the nations educational gap. I believed it was a winning formula: The ideas and thoughts conveyed in the law had the potential to be the perfect program for Americas schools, and students.
The law promised to ensure the same education for children from low-income families attending public schools that children in private and parochial schools receive. NCLB is filled with rhetoric stressing the importance of having highly qualified teachers, encouraging and nurturing literacy in children, allowing parents to have choice in which school their child goes to, and holding schools accountable for the educational outcome of its students. The law promised adequate funding to achieve these goals.
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