Learning Matters - The No Child Left Behind "Race"

The No Child Left Behind "Race"
Despite all the tough talk about the federal education law known as No Child Left Behind, thousands of schools with failing scores pass anyway. They do by using little-known and rarely discussed "loopholes" that are buried in the fine print of the law. Using sports analogies from track and field, our report explains four statistical techniques that allow schools to artificially boost performance and avoid federal penalties for low achievement. By taking advantage of these (perfectly legal) loopholes, states can add points to a school's score, thereby converting a failing performance into an apparent success. U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, together with education policy analysts Kevin Carey and Chester Finn, discuss the loopholes and their impact on students.

Produced by John D. Tulenko

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WHAT ABOUT YOUR STATE?

Does your state take advantage of the "loopholes" discussed in The No Child Left Behind "Race"? Review our State-by-State Report Card and uncover the NCLB "loopholes" used in your state.

A CASE STUDY OF "LOOPHOLES"

To better understand the impact of statistical techniques that avoid accountability for failing schools, we analyzed statewide test data from Illinois, where most of the techniques are used.

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Chester Finn Producer: Jane Renaud Editor: Jane Renaud Duration: 15:39		Three Quarters of the Way to the Moon? Though the federal law known as No Child Left Behind requires annual testing in reading and math, states develop their own tests and decide where to set the bar. Conservative education guru Chester Finn discusses these and other loopholes in No Child Left Behind and tells us why it’s politically impossible to suggest a goal less than 100%. Listen to this podcast online now. Listen to this podcast via iTunes. Read the transcript (PDF - 168KB).
Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings Producer: Jane Renaud Editor: Christine Umali Duration: 14:26		Game Changer Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings responds to John Merrow’s questions about loopholes in the federal law known as No Child Left Behind. Is the law truly holding states accountable for educating all children? Listen to this podcast online now. Listen to this podcast via iTunes. Read the transcript (PDF - 170KB).


ORIGINAL AIRDATE AUGUST 14, 2007