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Published Saturday, February 11, 2012 in Local
What does No Child Left Behind waiver mean for Coweta?
The Newnan Times-Herald
Georgia was among 10 states granted waivers from the national No Child Left Behind law Thursday, releasing those states' students from some of the most unpopular -- and, according to many educators, unrealistic -- mandates in American education.
"I think we all recognize No Child Left Behind was not a good indicator of school or student performance," said Dr. Steve Barker, superintendent of Coweta County School System. "I feel like one of the intents of the waiver was to give a better global view of how students are doing and set more reasonable goals."
President Barack Obama's granting of waivers has been strongly criticized by Republicans, who say Obama is overreaching his authority by freeing states from rigorous but necessary mandates set forth in former President George W. Bush's original proposal. NCLB has been up for renewal since 2007, and Obama said he took action because Congress had failed to update the law despite a widespread call to correct its pervasive problems.
With the 2014 deadline bearing down for 100 percent proficiency in students' reading and math scores, Obama's granting of the first round of waivers acknowledge NCLB's main goal may not be within reach. States receiving waivers are now exempt from meeting that proficiency deadline, and each ensured its waiver by showing how it will prepare children for college and careers, set and achieve loftier academic goals, reward high-performing schools and help under-performing schools move forward.
"If you're willing to set higher, more honest standards than the ones that were set by No Child Left Behind, then we're going to give you the flexibility to meet those standards," Obama said. "We've offered every state the same deal."
Barker said Georgia's exemption from NCLB is a first step. But as with all new education plans, caution is necessary as implementation begins, he added.
"I like the sound of the model," Barker said. "But I need to see more of the detail to determine what factors and how they are calculated to determine success for schools, students and groups of students."
According to Barker, the flexibility waiver will cause five immediate changes:
• Eliminate the 2014 deadline for all students passing math and reading tests.
• Replace graduation tests with end-of-course tests to determine high school student achievement performance.
• Change the calculation model for determining the performance levels of all students and subgroups of students.
• A new index which will include measurements in schools -- in addition to standardized testing and attendance, which were the sole basis of Annual Yearly Progress under NCLB -- that relate to student performance. Those would include factors such as Advanced Placement performance, dual enrollment participation, SAT and ACT scores, Georgia high school writing test scores and percentage of eighth-graders with individual graduation plans.
• New calculation of cohort graduation rates. Barker said school districts freed from NCLB have been told to expect as much as a 15 percent drop in graduation rates because of the new calculation.
Using information from the 2010-11 school year, initial data is being applied to the assessment criteria in Georgia's post-NCLB plan. Barker said he is anxious to see that data but is looking into the future as well.
"When we start getting credit for the other measurements not taken into account by No Child Left Behind, I think we will start seeing a more accurate picture of where we are," he said.
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I think the readers'comments make more sense than all I've read from the government, school systems, and the media...about NCLB. We should return to practices used decades ago and push for better teachers, better facilities, and quality in education. Those students who cannot cut it are eliminated, and the gifted are challenged as far as practicable. We waste far too much on the unteachable dregs that will always plague society (holds true for most non-senior recipients of our welfare society also, doesn't it? Doesn't this make sense?
Posted by Sambopete at 4:35 AM
Now the 3 R's can be taught again instead of a stupid test. Now our children can learn to read, write, and do arithmetic. Get the basics back down and let them excel to a brighter future instead of a world of dummies.
Posted by Donna at 4:23 AM
The Federal Government is involved because the States choose to accept Federal money. If the staes say "no thank you" to the $$, then they can say "no thank you" to the regulations. This waiver is not a waiver. It gets GA off the hook with NCLB, but makes them promise to do a million things that the Obama admin says they have to do. Thanks, but no thanks. I am glad my child is in private school.
Posted by Sharpsburg/Coweta resident at 3:31 AM
Richard @3:11 - you're so right! The bright kids are not being challenged so that the ones struggling can pass. Pathetic curriculum, waste of precious instructional time spent on standardized testing, pre-test testing and this week, a test to see how they would do on the pre-test. Really? No wonder our state is among the dumbest. Homeschooling is looking better and better.
Posted by concerned citizen at 1:43 AM
2/12/2012
Simple point to one test...you maam are the exact issue with students today. If your son is such a great student, he should pass all tests. Serously, drop history? How ironic that he tests fine in math and English, but not so much on history. What exactly do you know about the standardized tests? Do you realize that missing over half of the questions on the CRCT still equates to a passing score for each subject? Comments such as yours should make evryone nervous for our future.
Posted by banshee29 at 1:11 AM
Our State has been at or near the bottom for at least 30 years.
Way before NCLB.
Just like one reader said our system is top heavy, over-paid and to me are as a group are professional whiners...
Putting parents in Jail for kids missing more than 5 days,....Having show where you live every year....Making kids go to school over 16 when all there are is a nuisance.
In my day we had jobs for dumb people too.
All of these ridiculous rules to get Federal Tax dollars, not to teach kids.
The test's, If not cheated on could be used somewhat as a tool but over all, it binds real teachers from letting loose and teaching to the subject not teaching to the test
NCLB is gone soooo is all the acxountabillity
Posted by Ken at 12:45 AM
I may be mistaken here, but I believe that when they are referring to the 15% drop in graduation rates, I think it means that schools could still make AYP (or whatever it will be called) with a 15% lower graduation rate. Currently, as soon as a student is held back, moves, or dies (yes even if they die), that is taken into account as not graduating. So even if a student is held back back and then graduates a year late, it counts against the graduation rate because they didn't graduate when NCLB said they should--EVEN THOUGH THEY STILL GRADUATED!
Again, I may have inferred wrongly from my readings, but I do believe that is where the 15% is coming from.
Posted by Coweta Transplant at 11:10 PM
Why is the Fed gov involved in such stuff? Leave it to the states or municipalities. So many layers of Gov involved, no wonder our country is lagging and our state is near the bottom.
Posted by JM at 10:42 PM
There was once a leader that burned books and ruined his country.We are now in a period of history where the youth does not care for books anymore and when they are fully grown they will forget to add most of the clasics' to the web therefor a loss of books. History repeating itself and no one cares.
Posted by Nancy at 10:41 PM
This does not explain all the changes being made in the way we evaluate children and schools. CCGPS will usher in a new set of problems. I think the waivers are creating a new set of problems instead of relieving the burden of NCLB. Times Herald do some research into what is being discussed to test our students next and let the community know.
Posted by Me at 7:29 PM
Dear Nunya, I'm sure you've "used" history at least once in your life. Plus, those who don't understand history are doomed to repeat it, as they say. What scares me is now we're told there will be a 15% drop in the graduation rates. Now THAT is scary.
Posted by a thought at 7:05 PM
Those of you who think the waiver of NCLB is a loss of accountability needs to see what the replacement is. I saw the paperwork yesterday, and it is about 2 inches thick. There is much more accountability-much more than 1 test like NCLB. Bonnie Blue, you would do yourself some good and appear more accountable if you would research before you comment.
Posted by Lynn43 at 6:58 PM
Not sure how I feel about the mandates being lifted. At the end of the day, I feel our parents need to do a better job. When does that accountability come in to play? (as far as education)
Posted by A mom who cares.. at 5:00 PM
Have any one of you ever thought that GREAT students simply do not test well? My son is an A honor roll student but has failed every part of the CRCT every year. He isn't on nor does he need any sort of ADD or ADHD meds. He simply doesn't test well. Are you saying he should be held back due to this one test?? Think of all of the possibilities before throwing the baby out with the bath water. Some Great kids are being held back for the wrong reasons!
Posted by Mom at 4:05 PM
I don't understand why conservatives who generally are against federal government intervention is state and local activities are upset at being released from NCLB. Seems like a victory for the states' rights groups.
Posted by Jeff at 3:44 PM
Yes! Finally! My student has been an A/B student since 5 grade (now in 11th) and the only EOCT she still hasn't passed is History. Come on seriously, is she actually going to be held back for not passing the EOCT in History? She excels at Math and does just fine with English. I'm 46 and how many times have I used History in all my years? Nada! Zip! Zero! Come on seriously, let history go, not all people can be history buffs nor do we care about learning about it. It's very boring to me as well. I'm a business person, into computers and business machines. Yes I'm interested in that kind of history, and now with all the tech items in today's world, what I don't know about U.S. History I can look it up if I absolutely need it!
Posted by Nunya at 3:18 PM
Now every child is left behind. It is obvious that our educators are failing miserably and the future generations will not have the basic skills to compete. As soon as we get educational expecations back to the pre 1990's, maybe we will recover. Not everyone is equal, so fails the ones who are not ready and challenge the ones who are. That is a good start.
Posted by Richard at 3:11 PM
Instead of dealing with the problem, they do away with the test . The top-heavy, corrupt school systems are part of the problem . Trying to get the attention of Ritalin filled kids who have been parented by the entertainment media and trying to teach these kids is part of the problem. Getting the federal and state governments out of the schools would be a good first step. Still, it would take a couple of generations to straighten out this mess.
Posted by roger at 2:02 PM
I dont think so! gObama 2012
Posted by Bettie Butte at 12:36 PM
Ain't it fantastic Obama removes the very little accountability on Georgia schools. It is only befitting. There has been no accountability for actions againts this country.
Posted by Bonnie Blue at 12:05 PM
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2/12/2012
Link To This Comment
For those of you saying education has been in the toilet-it started when I was in school with the QBE Act- Quality Basic Education. Basically, it dumbed down the book for all the kids who couldn't pass in school to make sure we got government money. NCLB just accelerated the decline. My parents were divorced, and both worked 2 jobs, but they never failed to help us with our homework or make sure we knew stuff. WE were held to higher standards by our parents. That is gone today-please take away NCLB. I will continue to make sure my kids do well. You get out of an education what you put in parents. Not all kids will be scholars, not all kids will be failures.
Posted by Holly at 3:30 PM