No Child Left Behind Eases Some Requirements

[The Straight Story]

No Child Left Behind Eases Some Requirements
California educators have been granted some flexibility in regard to federal No Child Left Behind requirements.

Federal Education Secretary Margaret Spellings made the announcement Thursday. She said states with strict accountability programs already in place, such as California. will get credit for progress made toward NCLB-mandated goals, even if they have not reached them.

The NCLB monitors a school's progress on an annual basis, while California's accountability system judges schools on year-to-year progress.

In a nod to states that had complained that one-size-fits-all, unfunded NCLB requirements took away state and local control of education, the federal government will relax some federal requirements. One change is that California will now be allowed to administer assessment tests that are more in align with the abilities of children enrolled in special education classes. "This will allow them to be part of the system but be fairly assessed as part of the system," said Rick Miller, spokesperson for the state Department of Education.

http://www.kxtv10.com/storyfull1.asp?id=10210

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. That is good news

but throwing out the entire No Child Left a Dime bill would be even better news.

[ulysses]

3. what you said. n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. Hey Ulysses

I start testing on Tuesday so I am in a mood to trash NCLB.

I love Spring. It is my favorite time of year. But I am beginning to hate April because of the damn tests. grrrr

[ulysses]

6. we start the next week.

Happy happy joy joy. :eyes:

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. How about this for a positive atmosphere for testing?

This is what happened here yesterday at one of our schools.



Shortly after noon, two small fires were set inside the school at the same time, prompting an evacuation, officials said.

When the students were outside on the lawn, a fight broke out. School officials couldn't control the fight, so police arrived and used pepper spray to tame the crowd.

KMBC reported that students were scheduled to take state assessment tests Friday, but those were disrupted.


http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/education/4362152/detail.html

[ulysses]

11. heh!

When the students were outside on the lawn, a fight broke out.

You sure you don't work in my school? :D "I was on my way to a fight when a lesson broke out."

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. At one of our middle schools yesterday

two girls were fighting and were taken to the office by school security. Their parents were called, and while they were all in the principal's office trying to settle the dispute, the girls started fighting again. When a security guard tried to break them up, a 'family member' of one of the girls put a headlock on the security guard. The family member was then arrested.

Yep, testing sure brings out the best in kids. :)

[ulysses]

17. yup, that's familiar too.

First or second week of school, we had a street fight between two groups of kids at the end of the day. Things seemed to be well in hand when the parents showed up - until those parents waded into the crowd, swinging away along with the kids.

You know, I'd almost like to see education privatized as long as I can see the looks on the faces of some private school headthings when my kids and their parents show up on the doorstep with their vouchers. :D

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. That IS a good mental picture

Now I will have fun imagining how private schools will deal with some of the more challenging families I know.

One of my kids was transferred to a different school a few weeks ago at his mother's request. Mom called our social worker this week and asked for help paying a utility bill. SW told mom we only give referrals for assistance with utility bills to families of kids who attend our school. Mom said but there is no social worker at his new school, I don't know who to call other than you. SW told me she felt like telling Mom she should have thought of that before she got mad and asked for her kid to be transferred. (We are one of the few schools in our district that has a social worker; the position is funded by a grant.)

Mom then called the superintendent's office to complain that we refused to help her.

A lot of people just don't realize how crazy some of these parents are.

[Clark2008]

12. Yipes... and I'm considering turning my degree into a teaching

certificate.

Surely, I shouldn't reconsider.

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. Depends on what you teach and where

There are pockets of excellence in even the 'worst' school districts.

[ulysses]

15. no, you shouldn't reconsider.

Proud and I both teach special ed in..."challenged" schools, we'll call them. It's something to consider, but certainly not required. It's not a particularly *contemplative life*. :D

Go and teach, if it's what you want to do.

[FreedomAngel82]

8. I agree

But I doubt it would happen. :( As long as Bushie is around. At least there's some good news with that though.

[PuraVidaDreamin]

2. Reading the heading I thought that...

maybe it was okay to leave some children behind.:evilgrin:

[firefox]

4. Google results for "Unconstitutional"&"Department of Education"

Here are the Google results for "unconstitutional" and "Department of Education"- http://tinyurl.com/68o7z

The federal government far exceeds the powers granted it under the Constitution and in the case of education, they again are overstepping their Constitutional authority.

[FreedomAngel82]

9. Why am I not surprised?

EVERYTHING they do they do something against the Constiution and/or the Bill of Rights. Asses. :grr:

[Goathead]

10. Indeed, the federal government is overstepping it's bounds.

Education is a state's rights issue and much of what this misadministration is doing is unconstitutional. I believe they have been taken to court by a few state governments on this. The Bushies are really fucking with special education. They are going to make it so that the Sped teachers are endorsed in the particular subjects which they teach, which means they are going to have to have two endorsements. Do you know how hard it is to find Sped teachers? I still haven't figured out why the Bushies are trying to dismantle education, unless they want to privatize it, which sounds like a huge fucking nightmare. I really believe that they are trying to create a huge uneducated underprivileged impoverished class in this country, but why? Maybe they want to reinstate slavery. Hell, were already there.

[FreedomAngel82]

16. I wouldn't be surprised if

sometime before his term is up he'll try something to make school private. I remember once talking to this republican who totally dissed public school and was very proud and boastful that they went to a private school and sends their kids there. They either want school to be private or Christian schools. When I was in the public school system (I graduated in 2001) and things were starting to go pretty bad. My alma mater used to be a great school but things just got crappy. I don't know but I could tell there were changes going on. *sigh* While the public schools were looking older the private one's were looking VERY nice (of course). :banghead:

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. Keep in mind

that most states do NOT regulate private schools. Teachers do not have to be certified and there are no standards regulating the curriculum.

I predict that if and when there is a massive exodus to private education, it will be followed within a year or two by a massive return to public schools. It is already happening with charter schools.

[Hardrada]

20. Private schools will not take problem students anyway

so they have to stay in public education while the prissy lilywhites are off being taught Intelligent Design and Military Glory.