School Freedom In Arizona
Arizona has apparently surpassed most other states in achieving the goals of NCLB:
Most states are failing to pass muster with the federal government over student testing and may lose money unless they improve quickly.
However, Arizona was among six states receiving full approval with recommendations for improvements.
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President Bush's education law orders states to hold math and reading tests in the third to eighth grades, and once in high school. The deadline was the end of the 2005-06 school year.
Every state did have testing in the required grades. But many states still have significant problems, such as developing exams for disabled or limited-English students, or ensuring that tests are technically sound.
While not directly related, I have to think there is some connection between Arizona's success and that state's support for charter schools. From edspresso:
Arizona cemented its position as America’s school choice laboratory last week. State lawmakers created three new school choice laws to award thousands of disadvantaged children scholarships to attend private school. The new programs continue a 12-year trend of expanded parental choice in education in the Grand Canyon State.
Arizona's efficiency in meeting NCLB and its respect for school choice I think are connected in this way: both show a respect for the educational needs of students and a respect for parental aspirations, and raise that respect above the demands of greedy unions and sclerotic districts.
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