Some educators hope for ‘No Child’ overhaul

By Annie McCallum

Published: August 27, 2008

The ins and outs of No Child Left Behind can be dizzying for parents and educators alike.

Each year 29 benchmarks must be met, each year pass rates get higher and each year schools that do not meet even one benchmark by a slim margin can be labeled as not making Adequate Yearly Progress.

Enacted in 2002 and hailed as a major piece of President Bush’s domestic agenda, No Child Left Behind’s focus was accountability and making sure no one group of students slipped through the cracks. Now, six years later, the law is the focus of continued criticism by educators.

“The difficulty is because AYP is a punitive measure. It’s punitive in nature; typically punitive types of legislation or education movements rarely have long-term benefits for children or schools,” said Peggy Schimmoeller, Randolph College associate professor of education. “It takes the focus off learning and puts more on the place of meeting particular benchmarks.”

Educators have said the requirement that school divisions and schools meet all 29 benchmarks or be labeled as not making any progress makes the legislation rigid. Schimmoeller said she understands the frustration of administrators and principals when targets continue to shift and it’s all or nothing.

She also questioned whether AYP shows achievement and if there can be one definitive way to measure student success.

“I do think a lot of children tend to fall through the cracks because we are busy counting numbers,” she said.

So what’s in store for the future of No Child Left Behind?

“I’m sure it will not go away altogether. I think there will be changes, I hope there will be changes,” Schimmoeller said.

Discussion on No Child Left Behind and its renewal stalled with the opening of the presidential primary season. Officials expect discussion to pick up after this year’s presidential election.

“It needs some major overhauls,” Schimmoeller said. “I would suspect if we get some new administration in the White House we might see an overhaul of No Child Left Behind.”