Haefeli 1
Student: Vijay Haefeli
Professor: Nathan Coles
Class& Section: English 1010-078
Date: 4/15/2012
Final Issue Evaluation
No Child Left Behind Act of 2001
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is a reauthorization of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act. When President George W. Bush took office in January of 2001 he
saw the need and concern with the American Education system that he felt needed to be
addressed. In regards to remedying the problem, the Department of Education re-evaluated the
current education law (The Elementary and Secondary Education Act.) The No Child Left
Behind act (NCLB) passed by congress in the year 2002 is a compromise version of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act although with a different agenda. The new education
law is intended to hold schools accountable for the academic achievement of their students.
This is the outline for the No Child Left Behind Act. "This is the public law of the No
Child Left Behind Act of 2001. It is the blueprint, if you will of how the Act is planned out and
what sections and titles States in the United States shall adhere to. This law will be implemented
in closing the achievement gap with accountability, flexibility, and choice, so that no child is left
behind. Title I- Improving the academic achievement of the disadvantaged. The purpose of this
title is to ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a highquality education and reach, at minimum proficiency on challenging state academic achievement
standards and state academic assessments. Title II- Preparing, training, and recruiting high
quality teachers and Principals. The purpose of this part is to provide grants to State education
agencies, local educational agencies, State agencies for higher education, and eligible
partnerships. Title III- Language instruction for limited English proficient and immigrant
students. To help ensure that children who are limited English proficient, including immigrant
children and youth, attain English proficiency, develop high levels of academic attainment in
English... Title V- Promoting informed Parental choice and innovative programs. The purpose of
this part are the following...Title VII- Indian, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native Education. Its
purpose is the part to support the efforts of local educational agencies to meet the unique
educational and culturally academic needs...Title VIII- Impact Aid Program. These titles,
constitute the Act in improving America's Education System
The plan of the No Child Left Behind starts with Title one, the largest program in NCLB,
allocates federal financial support to local education agencies (LEAs), Primarily school districts,
to address the needs of educationally disadvantaged children. Because most school districts
across the country rely on Title 1 money, all 50 states have entered into NCLB agreements with
the United States Department of Education and are diligently working to meet the primary goals
of NCLB. The primary goals according to the Act is for "1. All students will attain proficiency in
reading/language arts and mathematics by 2013-2014. 2. All English learners will become
proficient in English. 3. All students will learn in schools that are safe and drug free. 4. All
students will graduate from high school. If states follow these procedures could they really meet
the goals that NCLB Act would like to see? You can look it at both ways in the American
education system on the bases of making sure all students receive a world class education. Of
course you can say that the No Child Left Behind Act has it's positive views and negative views.
In one article explains the positive aspects of the law. " One of the advantages according to fans
of the act is increased test scores. Date shows that test scores improved after the act was passed.
Another positive to come out of the No Child Left Behind Act is that the system is an
improvement over the old system where schools had to live up to local standards. A big
advantage of the No Child Left Behind Act is the increased sense of accountability, and pointed
to by those in favor of the act is an increased attention to minority populations. Others such as
(Kate Warmby) see pros and cons. A con in the sense that in order to make test results look
good, schools are deliberately skewing various figures. For example, some schools are finding
different categories to put school dropouts in--so that attendance figures look better. Others say
that the bill aims too high, and that 100 percent proficiency is a standard that U.S. schools can
never reach. Trying to achieve this standard. Furthermore, results in teachers focusing solely on
material that will be on the state's standardized test, making school about passing a specific test,
rather than about learning as a goal itself. It's hard for me to know for sure what essentially is
working and where it's working because each state has their own rudimentary education plans. I
can see the Act working in a positive sense. I can remember when the bill was passed that all
student's as part of the No Child Left Behind Act would be tested in three different areas, Math,
Reading, and Writing. If one failed so many attempts one would not receive recognition with a
High School Diploma. I believe the Act is fulfilling it's purpose in that it's not just making sure
that students are on track but that their learning as well to a greater accountability.
What do states have to say about the No Child Left Behind Act? According to
(Associated Press" writers Dorie Turner, Kristen Wyatt, and Ken Miller, the first 10 states to be
declared free from the education law are Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky,
Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oklahoma, and Tennessee the only states that have
applied for the flexibility and did not get it. Twenty-eight other states, the District of Columbia
and Puerto Rico have signaled that they, too, plan to flee from the law in favor of their own
plans. The proposal goes on to say that "the government action was a tacit acknowledgement that
the law's main goal, getting all students up to speed in reading and math by 2014, is not within
reach." The states excused from following the law no longer have to meet that deadline. Instead,
they have to put forward plans showing they will prepare children for college, and careers, set
new targets for improving achievement among all students, reward the best performing schools
and focus help on the ones doing the worst." I can't say for myself how other states are
performing with their students in the No Child Left Behind Act. Over the past few years I do
know that a majority of states have concerns about the NCLB and have filed court hearings about
the law, particularly around the rules and regulations surrounding it.
When President Obama took office and seeing the down tread and statistical views of the
No Child Left Behind Act it was time to reform the NCLB Act. The Obama administration
criticizes the Act saying that limits students in progressing from where they need to be. The
Obama administration contrived a new education plan that would focus on a "world class
education" as well as making sure all kids will have the opportunity to attend Colleges and
setting the way for a career. The Washington Post says (NCLB has significant flaws. It created
an artificial goal of proficiency that encouraged states to set low standards to make it easier for
students to meet the goal. The act's emphasis on test scores as the primary measure of school
performance has narrowed the curriculum, and the "one-size-fits-all" accountability system has
mislabeled schools as failures even if their students are demonstrating real academic growth.) as
part of an ongoing process of change in the education system "44 states and the District are
working together to create assessments based on the common set of standards developed by
educators, governors and state education chiefs. President Obama has now granted states filing
complaints against the NCLB in exchange for comprehensive plans to raise standards; to create
fair, flexible and focused accountability systems; and to improve systems for teacher and
principal evaluation and support. This flexibility will not give states a pass on accountability. It
will demand real reform. Although Congress has begun the process of reauthorizing the No
Child Left Behind Act. 26 states have made implications in their education plans that will assess
and help students who are not where they need to be academically. With all the information that I
have gathered about this issue it tells me that this is going to be a challenging road ahead in the
American Education system because of the differing views of this education concern. At the
time the Act was passed I wasn't the required age to vote for the President of The United States,
but I do know I looked up to confided in and followed the former President- President George
W. Bush in the execution of all the decisions that had to be made in the No Child Left Behind
Act. I was in Middle School and High School at the time when the Act was part of the new
education system. I know that the State of Utah as part of the No Child Left Behind Act,
students would have to complete 3 different exams in reading, math, and writing in order to
receive a high school diploma. The tests were fairly simple for most students including myself
but after living in Baltimore Maryland I can see why some states may see the testing aspect of it
"unsuccessful." One concern over the No Child Left Behind Act is that because it's mandated
that students with special needs are to be tested on the same level as everyone else might cause
some controversy just because they are taught with individual teaching plans.
I agree that the No Child Left Behind Act should and continue to be the system of
education because I feel that it does bring kids up to speed in where they need to be
academically. As part of the law states participating in the law are granted federal education
funds. This in return will allow more schools and there faculty to provide it with the funds
needed for teachers to teach what they are assigned to teach. I think that the law will compel and
make education a bigger priority for schools to make sure their students receive the education
they so rightfully deserve.
Work Cited
Council for Exceptional Children. "No Child Left Behind Act of 2001: Reauthorization of the
Elementary and Secondary Act." 15 July, 2004.web. 15 Apr, 2012
http://cec.sped.org/Content/NavigationMenue/Policy/Resources/OverviewNCLB.pdf
Duncan, Arne. "After 10 years, It's Time for a New NCLB." Washington Post, U.S. Department
of Education. 8 Jan,2012. web.15 April, 2012
http://www.ed.gov/blog/2012/01/10-years-it%80%99-time-for-a-new-nclb/
Education Reform Education. "Favorable Results From the No Child Left Behind Act",n.d.
.web. 15 April, 2012
http://www.k12reform.org/favorable-results-from-the-no-child-left-behind-act.htm.
Turner, Dorie, Wyatt, Kristen, Miller, Ken "No Child Left Behind: 10 States Receive Waivers
From Education Laws Sweeping Requirements". Huff Post Education.web. 15 Apr,
2012
Wharmby, Kate, Seldman. "Pros and Cons of the No Child Left Behind Act". opposing views:22
March,2011.web. 15 Apr, 2012
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/pros-and-cons-of-no-child-left-behind