What is "No Child Left Behind"?

It protects a child who is falling behind. Offering them extra services such as tutoring for free so they can stay on track for their age/grade helping the move forward. What it doesn't do is protect kids who are ahead making it easier for them to move tot he next grade or get services to foster the areas they are above the curve in- thus holding them back.

In addition to what Anon said, the goal is a 100% graduation rate, which, okay, is admirable on its own BUT what we have seen examples of is not making sure every child meets the "bar" to graduate, but rather the bar being lowered enough to put everyone though.

It is a waste of money and one of the worst educational "improvement" laws to date. It requires everyone to perform at a certain level on standardized tests. If the students do not perform well, then the teachers and schools are held responsible. The teachers' pay can be cut or them fired. The schools lose funding for failing. Schools that do well get extra money. So instead of putting money where we need it we put it elsewhere. It thusly has caused teachers to teach the test. Students do not really know the material. They have memorized it without an understanding of it. This does a huge disservice to them. This is why 10 states have been granted a waiver from having to meet the requirements and 28 more are requesting waivers. It was a total fail.

Classes basically have to move at the pace of the slowest child in the class. Therefore everyone (the other 99% of students) are bored. It has also lead to "teaching to the test". Teachers basically teach students how to take a standardized test, go over the material that is most likely to be on the test, and regurgitate a bunch of facts and dates. There is very little critical thinking in classrooms now. Teachers have even been known to cheat on these tests to help boost their students/districts/schools scores. (Along with everything purpleducky said!)

It is a joke. It s good in theory but not in use. It is failing big time. The schools teach to test because No Child Left Behind is reliant on standardized test scores. Currently, 10 states have received waivers so they don't have to follow the mandates in NCLB and still receive federal funding for education. With NCLB, the federal government can come in and CLOSE schools that are performing to their liking. They can deny federal education funds if test scores aren't high enough. It also allows, kids that are failing to pass, because no child is left behind. I used to have a copy of the No Child Left Behind and have read it, not as good as people think. It was supposed to help those that are struggling get the help needed to succeed, but that is not how it's being used.