“This country was built on American respect for education” R. Reagan. Thomas Jefferson warned that government “tyranny” would emerge unless “the people at large” were “educated at the common expense of all.” Yet more than half of Americans (51%) say our public education system is going in the wrong direction.
We have been “fixing” education since the Russian satellite, Sputnik, was launched on October 4, 1957. This spurred the US to boost federal investment in research and development, education, and national security.
The concern culminated in 1983 with the publication of “A Nation at Risk, an imperative for education reform,” and the fixing began. We had “no child left behind.” Emphasizing accountability, teacher quality, and parental options the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) was passed in 2001. Advocates said it helped raise test scores and improve school performance. Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) became law in 2015. ESSA kept some ideas from NCLB, like testing students to see their educational progress. It also gave more power to the states.
All students having access to quality education remains a central goal of educational policy. The shift from NCLB to ESSA reflects an ongoing effort to balance high standards and accountability with the need for local control. Now 10 years after ESSA, we talk of abolishing the federal Department of Education. Does this mean the “Nation at Risk” is over, we fixed it? Even better “No Child Is Left Behind” succeeded? Are states now able to insure “Every Student Succeeds?” Perfect.
Still 51% of US adults say the country’s public K-12 education system is generally going in the wrong direction? Nowhere have I read that testing primarily on math and reading was the key to a better education. Testing is an essential measure but not for evaluating teachers’ performance. Perhaps factors beyond the schoolhouse, , the lack of support for childcare and parental leave, and other social and economic policies remain impactful. How does taking money from public education and giving it to private schools help? Apparently, it does improve the economic well being of some better off parents. Are our state legislators stepping up to make education better?
Phil's Personal Perspectives 