Let’s Talk!: about NCLB waivers

The Let’s Talk! weekly blog gives you a chance to let us know how you feel about the issues and concerns that affect the lives of people with disabilities and their families and to hear what others think.

Ten years ago, President George Bush put into law his No Child Left Behind regulations that requires all students to be proficient in reading and math by 2014.  Today, nearly half of the nation’s schools have failed to make adequate progress in meeting those federal standards.

This month, President Barack Obama gave waivers to 11 states from the strict and sweeping requirements of the No Child Left Behind law, if they promised to improve how they prepare and evaluate students.

In one of the states that received a waiver, Tennessee, teachers breathed a sigh of relief. Although they had been working hard and made improvements every year, the growth was hardly recognized since the students didn’t meet the federal benchmarks.

“Under this new system it feels like it will be easier to measure taking kids from where they came in at and where they’re moving to,” Principal Jon Hubble said.  With growth as the goal, these educators say the new system will allow them more time to focus on what matters the most, their students.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan said states without a waiver will still be held to the standards of No Child Left Behind because “it’s the law of the land.”

Our topic for this Let’s Talk! post is about No Child Left Behind.

Do you feel that NCLB has helped to increase the progress your child has made in school?

Do you think NCLB has helped to make teachers more accountable?

Do you think NCLB is fair to students with moderate to severe disabilities?

Would you like to see your state get a waiver from NCLB?  Why or Why not?

Let us hear what you think about the new direction that education is taking.

Ready, set…Let’s Talk!