A new agenda
4.2.10 Diane Ravitch – I used to be a strong supporter of school accountability and choice. But in recent years, it became clear to me that these strategies were not working.
Diane Ravitch
Forget No Child Left Behind. Here’s how we can achieve real school reform. I used to be a strong supporter of school accountability and choice. But in recent years, it became clear to me that these strategies were not working. The federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) program enacted in 2002 did not produce large gains in reading and math. The gains in math were larger before the law was implemented, and the most recent national tests showed that eighth-grade students have made no improvement in reading since 1998. By mandating a utopian goal of 100 percent proficiency, the law encouraged states to lower their standards and make false claims of progress. Worse, the law stigmatized schools that could not meet its unrealistic expectation.
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Comments
As a longtime teacher and frequent featured speaker at International Reading Association conferences, I am thrilled that someone of Diane Ravitch's experience and reputation has chosen to expose the REAL problems in our schools. Everything she says in her article is right on the mark. If our policymakers would take the time and actually listen to Diane, we could solve many of the problems that plague our public schools.