If Arne asked you how to fix NCLB what would you tell him?
The Washington Post ran an AP story telling about Arne Duncan’s plans for a 15 stop “listening” tour where the topic is NCLB. (Story here)
So what would you tell Mr. Duncan? If he asked you what the feds should change about NCLB what would you tell him?
Here’s a short list from me.
1. Drop the accountability portion until our metrics can actually measure the things we value. We just hold schools accoutable for things that are easiest to measure.
2. If it’s not politically feasible to drop the current accountability portions then move away from a proficiency model to a growth model. Try to hold schools accountable for growth instead of holding them accountable for things like poverty, literacy deprivation, hunger and family dysfunction that impact prerequisite knowledge. Everyone knows that proficiency models are largely dependent on prerequisite skills that kids bring to their new grade level. In today’s mobile society this means you are holding one school accountable for what other schools and parents do.
I have others….but what say you?
I’d ask NCLB to clarify a difference between “accountability” and “responsibility”. Giving someone the tools to do a job, then holding them accountable to get it done is one thing. Telling someone they’ve missed a goal, after tying their hands, is holding them responsible.