I read an interesting diary on dailyKos on NCLB and the fact that it is up for reauthorization in 2007! Very interesting that the dems can really reshape this law. I'm not anti-NCLB in any way - its where our national mood is. But I do think it is up for some change.

Read the diary on KOS first, then look at my comment below:

I am deeply concerned about where we go with NCLB at this point. I'd like to respond to each point you made above:

1. Dems need to hold their own hearings on NCLB...Invite the press, let the chips fall where they may, but really give people a chance to share. Let's not engage in one-party group think, but really open our doors, our hearts and our minds to the truth.

Amen - let's let the real people - students, parents, teachers, administrators, everyone talk about what NCLB is doing in classrooms - congress needs to hear how this has impacted daily classroom life in America.

The same tests in every school in America. Boy, is that a rotten idea. If there is one thing that "standardization" proves over and over again, it is that it dumbs down curriculum and requires terrible pedagogy that is the exact opposite of moving toward a world-class educational experience. Dems: Don't entertain a national curriculum and national exams even for one second.

I WHOLEHEARTEDLY disagree with you. While I don't love standardization - we are one economy here - we have a basic requisite set of job skills needed by students, and its time for a national definition of proficiency - ESPECIALLY when folks in some states write crap tests so tha 96% of their schools make AYP when none of Virginia's do! That's bull!
We need to ensure the tests measure what matters - critical thinking - ability to read for meaning and comprehend - problem solving - let's measure and get data that tell us whether kids can do the things that America will need them to do as adults- analyze problems and find solutions!
We have to make certain it does not foment crap teaching and crap test-prep - I don't see that in my district, but we have leadership that seriously pushes teaching for meaning and discounts test prep.
But we do need to get a realistic picture of where kids are and ensure that students with missing skills have those holes filled - otherwise achievement gaps will NEVER get closed!

If you want one down and dirty meme that should guide Democrats position on education, it should be moving from "standardization" to "customization". This makes total sense on so many levels. With the Internet and new technology, and given the specialization that is required these days in every facet of the market and the unique skills different jobs require, we need, more than ever, students whose education has been specially tailored toward their unique abilities and attributes.

I agree with you in general here - we need to ensure that students' needs are met and that their interests are at the heart of their learning. Customization is a heady prospect - one that requires a great deal of time and energy at the school level. Poor, rural districts could never do it. Larger suburban and urban districts can do it through specialized programs and choice in schools - but if you are talking about an IEP (Individualized Education Plan from special ed law) for every student, you're talking about a massive amount of energy and personnel power needed. I'm all for raising the amount of money spent on kids and schools, but that isn't where my thinking is at.

I feel strongly that NCLB should be adjusted in these ways:

1. When schools repeatedly fail to make AYP, a team should look at why the school failed to do so and recommend and fund interventions that are proven to work for students.
2. The feds need to get out of the textbook selection business and look seriously at teacher training and heavily funding educational research. I am writing a lengthy paper about the achievement gap, and there has been much research on the causes and potential solutions, but TONS more is needed before we can isolate strategies that will work to truly fulfill the goals of a nation of equality. NCLB can help with the funding of research into what works and then fund the training of teachers/administrators etc to help implement it all.
3. PAY FOR THE TESTING AND THE PERSONNEL TO MANAGE IT! As a school administrator who chose to work 14 hour days for a month (including Sat/Sun) so that teachers could continue to teach while we did our freakin testing for AYP, school pretty much grinds to a halt to manage the testing behemoth. NCLB ought to fund testing coordinators and data analsysts for every single school in the USA. Teachers need to teach.
4. Analysis, state-by-state of the tests being used - some tests are clearly FAR MORE rigorous than others. Level this playing field.
5. Allow school systems to implement before-after pictures of students as a substitute test - its more useful for me to ask teachers to do a pre-assessment on students (get their reading level, math ability, etc) and then a post-assessment to see if what they did all year made a difference or not. If teachers can get an English-Language-Learner up 2 years in reading in 1 school year, they are amazing. Sure that 7th grader who has lived in the US for 3 years isn't reading at 7th grade level, but he sure did make a lot of growth. That teacher and school deserve recognition, not penalty.