Editorial: Help students by listening

Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2006 | 8:15 a.m.

It falls to all presidents to work with Congress in reauthorizing federal funds for elementary and secondary education. Presidents attach a name to the bill and tie it to their administration's educational goals. For the Bush administration, the funding became the No Child Left Behind law. Its primary goal was laudable -- improving the academic achievement of all students, particularly those from minority groups and low-income families.

In the four years since NCLB became law, however, it has produced disappointing results nationally.

Thousands of educators say the law would have a better chance to succeed if portions of it were changed. A common criticism is that the law does not provide nearly enough funding to accomplish all of its mandates, leaving school districts at the mercy of oftentimes recalcitrant taxpayers to bridge the gap.

Another major criticism of the law is its unyielding emphasis on standardized testing, which leads schools to stress rote learning rather than critical thinking. Yet another criticism revolves around the law's automatic sanctions against teachers and schools if students don't meet rigid improvement standards, even if demographic factors are presenting overwhelming challenges.

During a visit to a Maryland school Monday, President Bush said he will "fight any attempt to change the law." It is this kind of attitude that dooms a well-intended law to failure. We believe the president should listen to the law's critics and work with Congress on making at least a few of the changes that so many educators agree are needed.