Editorial: Law gets a failing grade

Sunday, July 9, 2006 | 7:40 a.m.

At its annual meeting a week ago, the National Education Association released a poll that says an increasing number of the nation's teachers are unhappy with President Bush's No Child Left Behind law.

The survey by the nation's largest teachers' union shows that 69 percent of teachers polled disapprove of the 2002 law, up from 56 percent in 2003. The law places too much emphasis on standardized tests and falls short of necessary funding, teachers say.

The NCLB law, championed by Bush, requires states to show annual improvements in students' scores on tests in basic subjects, such as reading and math. Its initial goals to improve students' academic achievement - especially those from minority groups and low-income families - was praiseworthy. But in practice, it is has not produced such laudable results.

Long before the NEA's recent poll, educators have criticized the law, saying it sets unrealistic deadlines, uses arbitrary standards and is chronically underfunded by the federal administration that called for its existence.

And earlier this year, questions arose about the accuracy of the standardized tests that were being administered by various companies across the nation - in large part to fulfill NCLB requirements. Nevada's schools ended up with so many grading errors on such tests from 2002 through 2004 that the state Board of Education ditched its contractor for the tests.

In the NEA's recent poll, nearly half of teachers surveyed said they believe the law has damaged conditions for teaching and learning at their schools, and 57 percent want Congress to make some changes to the law, which is up for renewal next year. But Bush has said he won't budge on accepting any changes to the program - a stance supported by only 4 percent of teachers.

In recent weeks the president has shown a willingness to work with others in solving foreign crises, such as Iran's nuclear quest and North Korea's missile program. It would be wise for Bush to use similar skills back home and listen to those who are calling for reform of this failing education policy.