School gap still wide despite policy changes
NCLB introduced annual testing of students and the publication of progress reports. It led to some schools being listed as deficient, much to the dismay of parents, teachers and local politicians. The political left soon objected to the ratings. The political right followed with objection of top-heavy federal restrictions. In the end, no one in Congress would update the law. So panic set in as the 2014 deadline approached. The Obama administration has set down its own standards for states seeking a waiver.
NCLB introduced more opportunities for testing companies and textbook suppliers to make money, more opportunities for education consultants, more opportunities to expand administration positions and more opportunities for local political bedfellows to set up SES services. Also, lets not forget this NCLB aka the Bush Family retirement plan OK’d by Obama. The standards set down by Obama for waivers proves federal takeover of local school authority. Furthermore, if NCLB is so evil and harmful to children why must state apply for waivers? Why do some state get the wavier and others not?
Delaware got its this week. It will go through testing and evaluations. It also will accept a new national “common core” standard. New, more flexible goals have been set.
Flexible could mean nothing but loopholes and means of deceptions to ensure Race to The Top is working to justify expanding administration, consultants and further federal intrusion. Race to The Top is a federal grant not law! Goal one was to get financially strapped states to buy in and then twist RTTT into ESEA re-authorization. When President Johnson signed ESEA into law in 1965 there were assurances that kept federal intrusion into local control in check! Now in 2012 there is assurances the federal government will be intrusive.
For now, everyone is all smiles. But it’s best to be careful. Reality has spoiled things before.
And when federal funding runs short local taxpayers will foot the bill. Delaware legislators allowed the state board of education the authority to approve state education regulations that are aligned with Governor Markell’s personal political agenda without fiscal-note to ensure financial sustainability once the Race to The Top “grant” runs dry in about two more years. The local school district now have the flexibly to take NCLB “funding” and apply it to RTTT agendas. Monies meant for SES funding will now go towards sustaining teacher bonuses.
The federal government can’t effectively run itself without exceeding its own budget and now they want control of our local schools. The difference is, local schools and state DOE must adhered to established budgets and don’t have the luxury of exceeding the their budget. Using NCLB funding for RTTT compliance is a fool’s journey and a local school taxpayer’s nightmare. You can bet when the $$$$ shit hits the fan the likes of Sokola and Schooley will be ready to retire rather that face the fact they supported the biggest ponzi scheme that hit public education. The winner once again will be Wall Street and Jack Markell’s stock portfolio.
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