No Child Left Behind (NCLB)

The title of this law is a joke.  It should say  No Child Left Behind except for special education students.  

The public law, 107-110 states that the purpose of NCLB is to ensure that all children have a fair, equal and significant opportunity to obtain a high quality education. In theory children should reach, at a minimum proficiency and challenging state academy.  

Nationally there is a significant gap between the achievement test scores of children from low income families, racial differences, children with disabilities  and the "normal" children.  

The NCLB requires annual proficiency testing, research based reading program, highly qualified teachers, supplemental education services and public choice as well as parent involvement.  

The theory is that by the time a child is in the 3rd grade they will all be able to read on grade level.  All children are tested on grade level regardless of their capability. So basically if you have a child who is in the 6th grade but is reading on a second grade reading level there is no way the child is going to be able to pass a test that is on a sixth grade level.  Not only are they getting state tested on their grade level but their classwork has to be given in the grade level the child is attending.  This is where this law makes no sense.  If a chid with a disability can only read on a 2nd grade level but tested on 6th grade level they are being set up to fail.  To top it off the overall scores dictates how much Title one money they will receive.

The other part of the law states that if a Title one school fails to meet adequate yearly progress (AYP)  two years in a row you can move your child to another school in the district that does meet AYP.  If the school fails to meet AYP for three years the school must provide supplemental education services, provided supplemental education services including tutoring, after school programs and summer programs.  These services are free to parents however the problem is when dealing with special needs children that are years behind their grade level no amount of supplemental services are going to catch them up to grade level.  Not to mention special needs children are tired, overwhelmed and overstimulated by the end of the day.