Is America Burning - a Forum To Discuss Issues: Educating Our Children or Enriching Bush's Big Business Buds

From Parade Magazine, October 28, 2007
/Your Money/ Making a Profit Off Kids

Over the last two years, 23 states across the country have added more than 11.3 million reading and math tests to their school curricula in order to keep up with the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Law. Michigan alone has tacked on more than 1 million new tests; New York more than 1.7 million.

While experts are debating whether increased testing helps kids learn more, most agree that it does mean big bucks for the testing companies. The school testing and testing services industry (which includes tutoring, test prep courses and the tests themselves) is now an estimated $2.3 BILLION a year enterprise, with just FIVE big companies controlling 90% of the statewide testing revenue.
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WA:Many teachers complain that they are forced to spend too much time teaching children to pass tests instead of concentrating on overall education. (Schools that fail to meet government standards on the tests are penalized, so teachers have to teach children to pass test questions.)

What do most educators think about the No Child Left Behind Law? Read on:

denver & the west

Educators assail No Child Left Behind

Almost all in a poll sent out by Sen. Ken Salazar say the federal law's goals are not achievable.

By Allison Sherry
Denver Post Staff Writer

Article Last Updated: 01/22/2007 09:43:33 PM MST

Colorado teachers, principals and administrators overwhelmingly say the federal education law No Child Left Behind is unrealistic and underfunded, according to a survey conducted by U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar's office.

Almost all of those who responded to the survey - sent to all Colorado school districts as well as a handful of parent advocacy organizations and administrators - said the law's goal of all students reaching 100 percent proficiency by the 2013-14 school year was not achievable.

Teachers also said they favor charting student academic growth over time, versus the law's comparison of the same grade levels year after year.

To read remainder of article, click on

No Child Left Behind

Also:

reviewjournal.com -- Opinion: EDITORIAL: No Child Left Behind

... told lawmakers this week that some veteran educators may quit rather than meet the standards required of them under the federal No Child Left Behind law. ...
reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2004/Feb-28-Sat-2004/opinion/23310496.html - 32k - Cached
Rethinking Schools Online

Everyone would like to see "no child left behind. ... No Child Left Behind is leaving a sour taste in the mouths of many. ...
www.rethinkingschools.org/special_reports/bushplan/index.shtml - 22k - Cached

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WA:As Parade Magazine asserts, most experts agree that the Law enriches Big Business. Are you surprised that BushCo would do something just to boost Big Business' profits? By BILLIONS?

COMMENTS:

Scarlet W. Blue said...