No Child Left Behind Argumentative Essay

No Child Left Behind was enacted to ensure the success of all American students however; the legislation is in need of drastic reform to truly accomplish this goal. The parameters set forth by the legislation are flawed in numerous areas. The act over emphasizes the results of standardized tests, takes on a one-size fits all approach for failing schools and most importantly, does not provide a valid measure of a student’s real academic progress. Furthermore, teachers are being forced to conform to certain methods of teaching rather than applying innovative approaches tailored to the different learning styles of their students. Under these circumstances, it is no wonder why success has been limited in closing the gap between minority and underprivileged …show more content…
(U.S. Department of Education) In addition to this, “schools and districts will be required to show “"adequate yearly progress"” [A.Y.P.] toward their statewide objectives…”(The New Rules) According to the U.S. Department of Education, “No Child Left Behind puts emphasis on determining which educational programs and practices have been proven effective through rigorous scientific research.” Though the goal of NCLB is admirable, it does not target the real problems at …show more content…
There needs to be a way to monitor the individual progress of students. Students with disabilities or are still becoming proficient in English are the biggest cause for concern. Their performance on a test that is also given to individuals whose first language is English and do not suffer from any medical setbacks cannot be the sole indicator as to whether or not they have made progress from the year before. This progress should be documented and reported as well. Parents should receive a progress report of the gains made by their child as well as address any areas of concern to allow parents to intervene before their school or child is