No Child Left Behind

No Child Left Behind is a 2001 law signed by President George W. Bush that holds public schools accountable for their students' test scores.

Under the law, a school whose students consistently fail standardized tests will be subject to disciplinary action, including giving vouchers to the students to study at more efficient private schools, or even firing the administration and teachers of the school and having the state government assume control.

Also it requires schools to allow displaced students to finish out the school year, which has been lauded by outreach counselors. The law has been claimed to be effective in ensuring that underprivileged youth receive the same standard of education as every other student by some, but many teachers say that it has failed.

Critisism

• The scores of students who move into the district just before the standardized test are counted with the others'. For instance, a school could be penalized if a child of illegal immigrants moved into the district and scored poorly.

• There is little leeway allowed for mentally disabled students, non-native English speakers, students with emotional problems, etc. The test scores are looked at with no interpretive data.

• Not only must the school have high test scores, each racial group must as well. A school could be penalized if their minority students perform poorly, even if they make up a small fraction of the overall school population.

• Teachers must sacrifice class time to prepare students for the test, practice the test, and give the test. Many teachers feel they are 'teaching the test' instead of the curriculum.