History of IDEA
Jeannie Oakes, Founder and Former Director
Youth Voice in School Finance
NEW REPORT: Los Angeles' road to A-G for all
Without Dollars and Sense Powerpoint
Past Educational Opportunity Reports
NCLB: Is there common ground for change?
- 04-25-2011
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Guest blog by Anne Geiger/Washington Post
The fate of former President George W. Bush’s signature education policy, the 2002 No Child Left Behind Act ( the latest incarnation of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, or ESEA), is unclear these days. Although crafted through bipartisan support to much fanfare, and arguably well-intentioned, NCLB provoked controversy just as soon as it was implemented. It had too many unreasonable, unrealistic, unfunded mandates, and it was unpopular with most everyone: teachers, principals, superintendents, school boards, parents, children’s advocates, and politicians on both sides of the aisle. And although most people agree that it needs needs to be fixed, there is little agreement on how best to do it. The disagreements is really about how one defines the role of the federal government in public education. It’s a sensitive subject but I still believe there is common ground — if everyone starts genuinely and respectfully listening to one other, and if they acknowledge the complexities and nuances of the politics involved. (more...)
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