I received a newsletter from NCPIE about "The NCLB and Parents with Children with Disablities." I haven't been to that site for a while but there may be some info there. I think the address is www.ncpie.org.
Also www.ffstoday.com
(Family Friendly Schools) has a blog. I tried to go to that page but it wouldn't come up. It may be my computer, but it may have some useful info for your research (which I am sure is continous).
HiMetzy....I have been out of town so I am sorry that I havent responded to your email. I was actually at a conference in Baltimore that was all about...parent and community involvement. It of course had a huge session on NCLB....I have to agree that it "sounds" like a good plan. I think in my district that it is working, that they are honestly making a effort. The worse thing i see with the whole thing is the lack of funding that schools arent getting yet are expected to put all these guidelines in play. I also have to touch on the testing thing in that yes they are mandating schools to do science testing nationwide and add additional tests as well. I do know that our district is doing away with some of the other tests that out students are doing. so in hand they are exchanging one test for another, which is good. I will email you....
"When you stop learning you stop growing."
Truthfully, I don't know what the committee is exactly for. I just don't want to go in there on the 27th and know nothing about the subject.
What research I've done tells me that NCLB is a good idea in theory. The reality is that it is a giant pain in the @ss and isn't doing what it set out to do.
I kinda got a kick out of the 3rd presidential debate where Prez. Bush says it's well funded and Sen. Kerry basically said Funding Schmunding, it isn't working...
I think NCLB is something that requires more than money. It certainly requires a re-write...
For my PS class I had to go to some websites, I chose an educational link and it gave all kinds of statistics. The most I remember about it was that TN has several thousand dollars of unused money from Title I and NCLB funding. It may have been the above site. If anyone knows what site it is hopefully they can give it to you, it was really useful.
Another thing the NCLB Acts states is that teacher aides must have an associates degree or equivalent thereof, or the pass the Paraeducator Assessment Test. They have 4 years to receive their degree from their hire date, if I am not mistaken. BUT in my county we have sub aides, we get made fun of alot for that, we have a list for those who are "qualified." I have been on the list for four years, I have 36 completed college hours, the PAC, and a teachers aide diploma. My friend who got on the list last year who has a high school diploma, was allowed to train for CATS testing. She also works twice as much as me. I don't think that is in compliance with the NCLB, among so many other things. Is the purpose of your committee to make sure your district is staying on tract?
[ 10-12-2004, 12:12 PM: Message edited by: C. Brooks ]
There are plenty of us who believe No Child Left Behind is a way to "force" some schools to fail in an attempt to promote vouchers. Our district has strongly condemned at the School Board level the absurdity of No Child Left Behind in that it "raises the bar" (which is a good thing), but does provide the means (funding) to accomplish it. It is a given that the majority of schools will not reach compliance and everyone knows it. There is too much testing added which burdens classroom teaching, i.e. teachers are spending too much time teaching to the tests, some of which are out of line with state standards, so results become skewed. There are plenty of schools trying to teach second language kids, whose programs have been cut drastically and there is no way to get these kids up to speed for No Child Left Behind, coupled with the school population is not static - new kids with the same need for English language skills are continually entering the schools. The idea of improving results & accountability is not a bad one, but No Child Left Behind does not accomplish this.
In a funning way, this sounds like what our CHarter school has been doing for years! Unfortunatly our school downtown are not fairing as well and one will become a charter school within a year.
It sounds like a great idea, I just hope it can work for everyone.
