No Child Left Behind

Early in President Bush’s first term in office Congress passed a new set of Laws regarding education, it is known as the No Child Left Behind Act. Its goal is to close the proficiency gap between white and minority students by 2014. Many educators and members of Congress are questioning the success of the law so far and what it will or will not accomplish by 2014. The law, which needs to be reauthorized by Congress this year, is not closing the gap fast enough. There is still a huge gap although shrinking slowly. The Bush administration would like to hang a “Mission Accomplished” banner over the No Child Left Behind policy however its doubtful that this will happen. Ross Weiner a principal partner at the Education Trust, a group that works to accomplish the goals set forth by the policy, say the results of law are “profoundly disturbing.” He attributes the prolonged gap to financial troubles that hit minority dominated schools. These schools get less money and in turn are less capable of hiring qualified teachers as well as providing students with the resources needed to provide adequate educations. There are many issues with the No Child Left Behind policy. Studies show that white children entering kindergarten arrive with more reading skill then minority children do, in order to fix this the government needs to provide money for early education programs. These programs could help to start all children on the same level, rather than allowing one group to start at a higher level then the other. As well the law provides money to create tutoring programs in low achieving schools however it does not provide money to turn around this horrid academic institutions. Not only is it important to provide a quality education, it is appropriate that the surroundings students are educated need to be improved. The low achieving schools are also the ones in the worst physical situations. Some schools have made great achievements at closing the gap however as a nation we have left children behind. We need to take steps to fix the problems in our low achieving schools and provide adequate educations to all children.