NCLB In Review

The EdTrust's Ross Weiner recaps the weaknesses of NCLB and the its implementation from an advocate's perspective (Guess Who's Still Left Behind Washington Post). According to Weiner, these flaws include lack of progress closing the achievement gap, low state standards and assessments compared to NAEP, and weak and belated attention to the teacher quality/equity provisions of the law.

Apparently, the USDE is finally attending to the equity provisions in the law -- which require equal access to HQT within districts -- though not requiring states to publicize the results. "We reward teachers with higher status and higher pay the farther away they get from the students who need the most help. This is true across districts, within districts and even within individual schools, where the most experienced and effective teachers are assigned to the "best" kids."