No Child Left Behind (NCLB): Flaws and Failures

On January 8, 2002, President George W. Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act and so began the downward spiral of our educational system.  First, I would like to take a few moments to explain what I am talking about for anyone who, like me, was out of high school when this law began to change things.

I have recently been working with the technology department of a large city school district and was privy to a bit of information and some unique observation on some interesting things.  One of these is the workings of the NCLB act in practice.

The No Child Left Behind Act, or the NCLB as it will be hereafter called, was a bill to support equal educational advancement to all students in the public school system.  This is the most worthy cause that I think the government could have decided to touch upon.  Everyone should have an equal opportunity to learn and be educated in their own right.  However, is that not how the school system was supposed to be run for decades?  Exactly what was this law designed to do?

To quote the purpose of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) as seen on Ed.gov

No Child Left Behind is designed to change the culture of America's schools by closing the achievement gap, offering more flexibility, giving parents more options, and teaching students based on what works.

Under the act's accountability provisions, states must describe how they will close the achievement gap and make sure all students, including those who are disadvantaged, achieve academic proficiency. They must produce annual state and school district report cards that inform parents and communities about state and school progress. Schools that do not make progress must provide supplemental services, such as free tutoring or after-school assistance; take corrective actions; and, if still not making adequate yearly progress after five years, make dramatic changes to the way the school is run.