| The "No Child Left Behind" law (NCLB), signed by | | | | (reported approx. 70,000 SES students in '04) |
| President George W. Bush on January 8, 2002 has | | | | have consistently been fighting for the top spot. |
| shifted the way schools must deal with their | | | | These programs are free to the students and |
| student population. While the verdict is still out on | | | | yet are generating millions of dollars, tax payer |
| whether or not the NCLB is beneficial for schools | | | | dollars, for the companies operating them. The |
| around the country, one must still ask the | | | | fight for student numbers in these programs is |
| question, does that even matter? After all, are | | | | fierce. These companies are aggressively pursuing |
| schools developed to benefit the schools | | | | student populations for enrollment into their |
| themselves or the students that occupy them? | | | | programs for pure profit. |
| Several states are now taking issue with the | | | | The fact is that one student attending an SES |
| NCLB, stating that they are losing money as a | | | | provider program generates approximately $1500 |
| result of this law. Before we get exasperated | | | | per semester of attendance. This fee yields these |
| with our current President however, remember | | | | companies millions of dollars and takes those |
| that the initial intention of NCLB was pure. With | | | | dollars directly from the schools. Millions of |
| schools failing to reach federal standards across | | | | taxpayer dollars are leaving the schools and going |
| the country, something had to be done, | | | | into the pockets of private sector companies, all |
| subsequently, for the first time in the history of | | | | under the guise of helping students improve their |
| education a level of accountability was being | | | | academic position. Some companies have |
| implemented nationwide. Tying results to the | | | | produced statistical data to prove their programs |
| bottom line seemed to be a good idea. | | | | are better than others. Numbers don't lie. Or do |
| NCLB has had 4 years to produce results and | | | | they? Statistics are easy to use and manipulate |
| even now many states are not in agreement with | | | | to prove whatever your objective is. Are the |
| the current administration on the effectiveness of | | | | students really benefiting? |
| this new law. "Utah's legislature passed a bill giving | | | | Some SES providers are profiting so much that |
| state education law priority over NCLB, even | | | | they can afford to offer incentives to the |
| though the decision could cost the state more | | | | students for attendance. There are students |
| than $76 million in federal funding. Colorado also | | | | across the country receiving incentives equaling |
| allows local districts to opt out of NCLB without | | | | $100 for perfect attendance. The profit is so |
| incurring penalties from the state" according to | | | | significant that SES providers can pay their staff, |
| Ellen R. Delisio (Education-World.com, 2005). | | | | develop and purchase materials, create marketing |
| More states are following suit in fighting NCLB and | | | | materials and offer student's incentives to |
| the Federal Government. The focus seems to be | | | | participate in their program. |
| on the fact that the Federal government has | | | | Is it no wonder why tax payers refuse to vote in |
| given states a mandate but has not funded the | | | | favor of school bonds across the country? With |
| states with enough money to implement this | | | | millions of dollars leaving the schools and going into |
| mandate. A perfect example of this shortfall is in | | | | the private sector, why do we think that |
| Connecticut where officials recently ascertained | | | | taxpayers, already feeling taxed to death, would |
| that full execution of NCLB will cost the state | | | | offer more cash to the seemingly bottomless pit |
| $41.6 million more than the state receives from | | | | of education? The new push is for parents to |
| the federal government through fiscal year 2008. | | | | obtain outside education assistance for students. |
| (Education-World.com, 2005) | | | | This year parents are expected to spend $2.5 |
| Connecticut has filed a law suit to fight against | | | | billion dollars nationwide on additional academic |
| NCLB; that suit is pending. The fact is that schools | | | | tutoring. This can't be the answer. Why can't the |
| in Connecticut repeatedly perform higher on | | | | students learn the necessary information within |
| annual standardized tests. However, there are | | | | the same school day as their parents and |
| significant pockets of failure among minority | | | | grandparents before them? |
| children, which is why NCLB was instituted, to | | | | So what is the solution? No one has come up with |
| make sure quality education was provided for | | | | a solution that works. One has to question |
| ALL students in all areas. Civil rights leaders have | | | | whether taking millions of dollars from the current |
| taken a strong stance in the fight, stating that the | | | | school system is the answer. The fact that |
| Connecticut law suit is "ill-advised" and will only hurt | | | | students are not being given the basic level of |
| the children. | | | | education necessary across the board is not |
| The list of schools that have been labeled as | | | | acceptable. The question is how do we redesign |
| failing was released on September 1st In Arizona | | | | an entire educational system to produce success? |
| 13 east valley schools have failed under the NCLB | | | | Let me give you something to ponder over the |
| guidelines. Reportedly 21% of Arizona schools | | | | next few months as the whole NCLB situation |
| failed to meet "adequate yearly progress," this | | | | plays itself out across the country. The problem is |
| number increased 3 percentage points from '04. | | | | not the teachers, or the principles within the |
| All the information seems to point towards our | | | | schools, it is simply an issue of systems. The |
| school system moving backwards. Yet despite | | | | system is not working and yet we hold onto it |
| reports that showed 21% of Arizona schools had | | | | like in time it will get better. Our current |
| not made "adequate progress", SAT scores for | | | | educational system is antiquated and it is not |
| students in Arizona hit an all-time high. | | | | reaching the current clientele. What about taking |
| Since the inception of NCLB a new industry has | | | | some of the millions of dollars that are finding |
| exploded. Within the last 4 years a multitude of | | | | their way into privately held multi-million dollar |
| educational companies, close to 1800, have found | | | | companies and disperse that to the instructors |
| their way onto a multitude of our states | | | | that are creating an atmosphere conducive to |
| Supplemental Education Services (SES) providers | | | | learning? Why not look to reward instructors for |
| lists (ASU news release, 8/29). The most | | | | finding ways to reach their population? The fact is |
| prominent of these companies produce millions of | | | | that teaching is one of the lowest paid |
| dollars in revenue and have created a niche | | | | professions in the world. It's time we took notice |
| market, operating on the failure of schools to | | | | of that and kept the money in the schools and |
| reach their disengaged students. While the 1800+ | | | | rewarded those instructors that are gaining |
| companies have developed SES programs, | | | | ground and reaching their student populations, |
| Newton Learning (reported between 80,000 - | | | | while providing specified trainings for those that |
| 90,000 SES students in '04) and Sylvan Learning | | | | are failing to reach their students. |