per ABCNote:A Dean “I told you so” –“No Child left behind” hurts education

[papau]

The ABCNote says that the fact that some communities and Republican legislators now realize an underfunded “No Child Left Behind” is a negative for education,per NYT, somehow gives Dr. Dean another "I told you so..." gift - while the NH Union Leader notes the same.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/02/education/02RESI.html
Some School Districts Challenge Bush's Signature Education Law
By SAM DILLON


EADING, Pa. — A small but growing number of school systems around the country are beginning to resist the demands of President Bush's signature education law, saying its efforts to raise student achievement are too costly and too cumbersome. <snip>

Republican lawmakers from the National Council of State Legislatures, who consider the law a violation of states' rights, took their complaints to the White House in November, where they got a chilly reception.<snip>

But in the presidential campaign, criticism of the law by Howard Dean, the former governor of Vermont, and other Democratic candidates has been drawing an enthusiastic response. School boards, Dr. Dean told a New Hampshire town meeting recently, call the law "no school boards left standing." Teachers call it "no behind left," he said.<snip>

"When the law was passed it looked positive and bipartisan," Dr. Jefferson said. "But as these regulations have become known there's a growing sense of outrage." <snip>

Last year resentment toward the law largely focused on the way Washington seemed to be telling states how to make schools accountable, when many had successful homegrown programs. This year, rising frustration has shifted to money.<snip>

http://www.theunionleader.com/articles_showa.html?article=30999

(And the Union Leader's Tom Fahey says all the Dems are now calling NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND a legislative "bait and switch" while noting that Howard Dean's consistent opposition to the measure since his days as governor has won him the support of NEA-New Hampshire )
Five Democratic Presidential candidates voted for the No Child Left Behind Act as members of Congress. Now they complain they were victims of a legislative bait and switch, tricked into supporting a sweeping reform bill they say is underfunded by the Bush administration.

Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean urges governors to reject all money the federal government sends under the law or risk being trapped into meeting standards the government doesn’t pay for. His stance against the bill, both as governor and as a Presidential candidate, won him the endorsement last month of New Hampshire’s largest teachers union.

Sens. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., and Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., crafted the bill, passed in late 2001. Since President Bush signed it into law nearly two years ago, Kennedy has led the chorus of complaints that the act was not funded properly…up to $13 billion — is needed to properly fund the act.

Dean has called the No Child law a “draconian,” unfunded mandate and said, “This President has made education worse in this country with his mindless piece of legislation, not better.” <snip>

[Tadah]

1. and Dean has no alternative plan

Certainly Dean has a good idea to have social workers visit the homes of newborns, but Dean doesn't have a plan that holds schools accountable for not working.

Kucinich is my first choice while somebody, including GW, who supports NCLB is my second choice.

Changes have to be made, for sure, but the good parts of the bill are too good to throw out:

1) "highly qualified teachers" in every classroom.

2) national testing.

3) penalties for not meeting standards.

If we get tough on crime, that should include getting tough on the school systems that can't adapt their learning environments to get the job done.

Instead of fighting NCLB, we should find ways to overcome "language barriers" and silly requirements like test attendance. For example, schools could be audited to make sure that poor students weren't discouraged from taking the test.

As Kucinich noted, test scores (in Houston, for example) have been manipulated and we need to get to the bottom of that.

If some school districts avoid testing poor students (not 100% of students tested), they will harm the honest school districts.

Dean was ordered by the Vermont Supreme court to equalize funding across the state of Vermont and he did it with property taxes. The current governor, a republican, is using a sales tax instead.

While Dean talks big, he mentions on his website that property taxes aren't the way to equalize school funding. As far as I know, he doesn't offer a better solution. In some cities (in the US), the sales tax is so high that they have to raise property taxes to implement school systems that work for everybody.

While Dean correctly notes problems with NCLB, I don't think he stands behind "equalized performance," which minorities and the lower class deserve. NCLB and Dean's "social worker visits" are both important.

[papau]

2. You, I, and Kennedy agree - if funded with additional 13 billion, it helps

You just can not trust Bush to actually do anything good for those not rich and corporate.

[Tadah]

3. there is a lot of waste though...

"You, I, and Kennedy agree - if funded with additional 13 billion, it helps"

In St. Paul, MN, 50% of the cost ($11,000 to $15,000 per student) goes to administration.

While administrators make six figures (I've seen up to $300,000 in Chicago), other employees make much less. My grandmother noted that a teacher's aide makes $20,000 a year in her area. I volunteer in my area and know that an aide is as valuable as a teacher!

Kucinich notes that the "money is there" and I take that to mean it isn't distributed properly.

My parents told me that their school board rejected 2 proposals for new schools-- since they were too expensive.

Unfortunately, the economy of the public school system isn't growing and at $11,000 to $15,000 per student in MN, the district's credit cards are maxed out and fighting with health care costs...