Reauthorization

It was recently found by The Center for American Progress that 24 states are failing in the recently released Leaders and Laggards state score cards. As Congress continues its hearings regarding the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind, it needs to find ways to legislate stronger requirements and guidelines to address the current shortfalls.

The Center for American Progress recently released a series of reports showing the effectiveness of new policies to address shortfalls such as longer school days to expand student learning time, after-school programs, incentive-based pay for teachers and staging early interventions for students at risk. Many of their recommendations include improving accountability, improving data quality measures, and improving teacher quality.

Recommendations involving improving data quality measures include standardizing the way the system tracks individual student progress from year to year for all states. Different states currently use different measures. They also recommend that the federal government establish a set of voluntary national standards. It was found that it was much more effective to use a standardized test (they are a more accurate indicator of student achievement) than state tests.

The committee hearings also concluded that there is an increasing need for improved teacher quality. Their research shows that “the difference between a good teacher and a bad one can mean the difference of a full year of learning for students.” They also report that teachers in overseas schools “respond to the same incentives professionals in other fields respond to, if the incentives are well-structured.”

Ultimately NCLB has done little to improve student achievement in recent years. As Congress works to reauthorize the Act, they will need to not only consider research that is available, but will also need to consider some innovative solutions to many of the shortcomings we are now experiencing in our current educational system.

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