The New York Times weighs in on improving NCLB

If you missed the NY Times editorial on February 5, here it is.

(Improving No Child Left Behind Act).

My two cents?

I agree with those who say that the NCLB has done more good than harm. Its focus on academics, results, and the outcomes for specific groups has been a positive and should continue.

However, the gnawing concern I have is that we get smarter about which gaps to close. For now, our efforts and huge funding are designed to bring students who do not yet have basic skills to a rather basic, mediocre level of ‘proficiency.’ That is OK as far as it goes, but it detracts from efforts and funding for that other gap. We are failing to focus on the top half of the classes–students who can already read, write, and do basic math. What challenges do our laws now provide them? None. There is no focus on them. No new funds. No new sanctions. etc. This is not good for America.

I’m afraid that our laws’ current out-of-balance focus will NOT close gaps for these students, and will leave them behind. Certainly, we are already seeing that international results–comparing top students around the world. Since the law does NOT focus on pushing students who already meet ‘proficient’ standards to higher levels of achievement, I believe that needs a fix. America needs these students to be all that they can become!