Published: Saturday, June 23, 2007
Poll: Parents, educators want fix to No Child Act
Despite many criticisms, parents and educators would rather mend than end the federal No Child Left Behind Act, which requires all children to be academically "proficient" by 2014. The public at large also expressed interest in national education standards, according to a recent survey.
The New Jersey-based Educational Testing Service, which commissioned the poll of parents, teachers, administrators and others, found that many surveyed knew few details about No Child Left Behind or harbored misconceptions. Public support rises when the law is explained, concluded pollsters Peter D. Hart, a Democrat, and David Winston, a Republican.
The poll also found that teachers (77 percent) and administrators (63 percent) hold a "staunchly negative" view of the law, though only a small percent would dump it.
Description
Critics questioned the survey's description of the law: "The No Child Left Behind Act provides federal funds for school districts with poor children in order to close achievement gaps. It also requires states to set standards for education and to test students each year to determine whether the standards are being met by all students. In addition, No Child Left Behind provides funding to help teachers become highly qualified. It also provides additional funding and prescribes consequences to schools that fail to achieve academic targets set by their state."
This wording overlooks the ramifications of an underfunded "lock-step focus on a test and punish regime," said Robert Schaeffer, public education director of the Massachusetts-based FairTest coalition, which advocates sweeping changes. He added: "There is not a single credible education measurement expert in the country who believes the 2014 deadline for all children being proficient is realistic."
Parent activist Martha Sanchez wasn't part of the poll but shares respondents' confusion. She said she's unclear about who's responsible for the limited progress at her children's schools: "To me, this law is more about politics than helping children. We're not receiving more support for teachers and parents."
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