Editorial: Failing our students

Sunday, June 3, 2007 | 7:13 a.m.

The terribly flawed No Child Left Behind Act is up for reauthorization this year and should not leave Congress without being overhauled.

In his State of the Union speech, President Bush called on lawmakers to reauthorize the law, which took effect in 2002. The law, an attempt to increase student achievement, has been hailed by the president as one of his administration's top achievements - but that is not the way the American people see it. Far from it.

A Scripps Howard News Service poll done last month showed that nearly two-thirds of American adults want the law either scrapped or rewritten. Only a third say the law has had a positive effect.

The law has failed because of its inflexible design, which created bureaucratic hoops for students and schools to jump through and artificial achievement standards.

For instance, to pass federal muster, schools must meet standards in 37 criteria, all of which are weighted equally. Failing just one means the entire school fails. And because standardized tests are the final yardstick for achievement under the law, teachers have had to tailor the curriculum to teach to the tests. The law has handcuffed teachers and turned students into test takers, not learners. As well, this law has created a heavy burden for schools without providing the money and resources to help. People who deal with this every day - teachers and school administrators - say education suffers under the constraints of this law. The National Education Association, the dominant teachers' union, is backing sensible changes that would give schools flexibility and support to help students reach achievement standards.

"Give us the tools and resources and we'll be accountable," NEA President Reg Weaver said during a meeting with the Las Vegas Sun's editorial board last month.

Congress should make changing this law a priority when it returns next week, and it should include parents and teachers in the discussion about improving the schools. The intent of the law, to hold schools accountable for student achievement, is worthy, but it will never be workable unless the law is changed to give schools realistic goals and the resources to meet them.