NCLB Waivers and the Resulting Responsibilities
NCLB Waivers and the Resulting Responsibilities
On September 22, 2011, the Obama Administration released a plan that allows states to receive waivers exempting them from key components of the No Child Left Behind Act. To date, 42 states, including Utah, have received waivers.1 These waivers, however, are granted only through compliance with requirements that are considered by some to be worse than those of NCLB. One condition on which waivers are granted is that states must develop new evaluation guidelines for teachers and principals based on student growth and to be used to “inform personnel decisions”. It is unclear whether this ambiguous statement included in the federal requirements is meant to refer to hiring new teacher or firing current ones.2 In August 2013, the waivers of three states were placed on high-risk status by the Department of Education because of their inability to adequately tie student growth to these evaluations.3 If these states fail to meet expectations soon, their NCLB waivers may be revoked. Another condition that has brought much controversy is the requirement to apply “college- and career-ready standards” to state tests. States have the option of developing their own standards to be approved by the Department of Education or to adopt the Core Curriculum Standards, a set of standards developed by the Department of Education. Many are concerned that this is an attempt by federal government to consolidate state curricula into one set of standards, applicable to every school in the nation.2 While it is unclear if these requirements will last and how they will change the future of education in our country, it is obvious that the effects of No Child Left Behind will continue to affect the education of our youth long after waivers have been given.
1. http://www.edweek.org/ew/section/infographics/nclbwaivers.html
2. http://www.eagleforum.org/educate/2011/oct11/NCLB.html
3.
On September 22, 2011, the Obama Administration released a plan that allows states to receive waivers exempting them from key components of the No Child Left Behind Act. To date, 42 states, including Utah, have received waivers.1 These waivers, however, are granted only through compliance with requirements that are considered by some to be worse than those of NCLB. One condition on which waivers are granted is that states must develop new evaluation guidelines for teachers and principals based on student growth and to be used to “inform personnel decisions”. It is unclear whether this ambiguous statement included in the federal requirements is meant to refer to hiring new teacher or firing current ones.2 In August 2013, the waivers of three states were placed on high-risk status by the Department of Education because of their inability to adequately tie student growth to these evaluations.3 If these states fail to meet expectations soon, their NCLB waivers may be revoked. Another condition that has brought much controversy is the requirement to apply “college- and career-ready standards” to state tests. States have the option of developing their own standards to be approved by the Department of Education or to adopt the Core Curriculum Standards, a set of standards developed by the Department of Education. Many are concerned that this is an attempt by federal government to consolidate state curricula into one set of standards, applicable to every school in the nation.2 While it is unclear if these requirements will last and how they will change the future of education in our country, it is obvious that the effects of No Child Left Behind will continue to affect the education of our youth long after waivers have been given.
1. http://www.edweek.org/ew/section/infographics/nclbwaivers.html
2. http://www.eagleforum.org/educate/2011/oct11/NCLB.html
3.