My Boarding School Blog

The No Child Left Behind Act is causing states to lower difficulty of test questions to increase proficiency in Reading and Math exams. In a false hope to make the NCLB program a success, some states are shown to have disparities in their state exam test results.

The Thomas B. Fordham Institute and Northwest Evaluation Association used data gathered from 26 states to show how far different reading and math standards are between states. Shown in their report called The Proficiency Illusion, two-thirds of U.S. students attend class in states that has the lowest standards. Contrary to what the NCLB program aims for. Further findings show reading standards are lower than the standards in math which means that reading tests are easier than math tests for students to pass. Out of the 26 states studied 8 states have made reading and math easier to pass in multiple levels. Standards reflect easier for younger students that older ones which give the false impression that young kids are doing ok in school but when they progress to a higher level they will most likely fail. Different interpretations of scores for different evaluation purposes are shown in states like Colorado where a “partially proficient” score on test states is reflected as “proficient” on NCLB tests. Making tests easier for students to get a higher proficiency rate is reported to reach 70% in math and 50% in reading.

The Proficiency Illusion report mirrors our lack of seriousness in addressing the problem on education reform. The aim of the NCLB program is to help school children to meet the standards of good education. States are creating false impressions that our children are doing good as shown by test ranks and proficiency rates when in fact they are not.

Every child has to be proficient in reading and math by the year 2014 is the target but if States can set their own standard of proficiency to meet the goals set by the NCLB then we are just wasting time and there will be a good chance there are kids who are going to be left behind.

State educators should push through the highest possible attainable standards in reading and math across all levels. Only when states test their students the right way will we achieve a true assessment of the proficiency of our school children and from this step we can further construct programs that will improve their proficiency and make sure that no one indeed will be left behind.

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“Waiting for Superman” is a documentary made by film maker Davis Guggenheim and producer Lesley Chilcott. The film talks about the failure of US American public schools in meeting the standards of education. The film is recognized at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival by receiving the Audience Award for best documentary. The documentary premiered in the US last September 24.

The film is very powerful and moving as it evolves in following the lives of children and parents who hope for a chance to education. It features Black families and Latin American whose income is insufficient to send their children to private schools; they then turn to public schools in the hopes of giving a future for their kids. The aim of the documentary is to provide quality public education for children who cannot afford private schools. The film has inspired Microsoft founder, Bill Gates to promote the documentary. Although Bill Gates received his education in a private school he shares the belief that every American has a right to a quality public education they can use to succeed in life.

When the Bush administration passed the “No Child Left behind Act”, it sparked hope for educators and teachers that the quality of education in the US will see an increase. The “No Child Left behind Act” or NCLB aims to raise the quality of education through standards-based education reform. It believes that by raising high standards and specific goals, academic performance will improve. Some may argue that the goals of NCLB are unrealistic and unachievable. Alabama State Board Member Mary Jane Caylor disputed that the 100 percent proficiency is attainable come 2014.

The NCLB will give funding to states that are able to meet the standard test scores set by each state. The likelihood of states lowering their standards is possible to meet the criteria for the incentives of the NCLB program. Critics say this may cause some states to manipulate their test results or cause teachers to teach the “test”. It will then disregard the true purpose of raising the quality of education through this act.

“Waiting for Superman” is an outcry for legislators and educators to provide quality education in public schools. To face educational reforms head on to dissolve animosity of teacher’s unions in the educational reforms pushed by the government and organizations. The film is emotionally engaging when it showed parents’ frustrations for their children as they go through the lottery system for a better chance of education in a better public school than the one they are currently stuck in.

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