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Story:
Lawmakers Target Mandatory Testing
in Education Law, 03/21/07 Reading Comprehension Questions: 1. What is the No Child Left Behind Act? When was it enacted? When will it expire? 2. Why are some people critical of the law's emphasis on testing? 3. How do the act's supporters respond to critics? 4. What happens to schools who fail to meet the NCLB targets? 5. Other than testing, what is an additional criticism of No Child Left Behind? Discussion Activity (more research might be needed): 1. What do you think are the pressing problems in American schools? If you were in Congress, how would you work to improve education opportunities in America? 2. Do you think NCLB is a good education policy? Why or why not? 3. Do you go to a public or private school? If it's public, how do you think No Child Left Behind has impacted your education? How much emphasis is placed on tests in your school? What is positive? What is negative? If you go to a private school, do some research about who goes to your school. Who can afford it? Who can't? What are the public schools in your neighborhood? How are they different than your school? 4. What do you speculate might happen if the A-PLUS legislation in the Senate became law? Explain your reasoning. Write a 300-500 word essay on either of these topics providing clear examples. Send your completed editorial to NewsHour Extra (extra@newshour.org). Exceptional essays might be published on our Web site. |