NCLB: The Trojan Horse of the 21 st Century: Will It Be Put to Pasture? History, Opinions and Updates of Robert C. McCracken

Presentation Goals  Present History of NCLB  Present Thoughts and Opinions  Present Update Status

NCLB and Teaching First here are some mandatory lessons about teaching!

Pre-Assessment  What do the letters NCLB stand for in respect to a federal program?  Is NCLB a new program?  Who is in control of education, states or the federal government?  NCLB has the ability to declare a school as a failed school? True or False

Pre- Assessment  What is the term and measurement of a school success under NCLB?  What are penalties if a school does not meet the expectations of NCLB?  Can a teacher lose their job as a result of NCLB expectations?  Can the state take over a school that does not meet the expectations of NCLB?

Pre- Assessment  Will AYP be determined the same at the end of this current school year?  Who can change or amend the current law and regulations contained in NCLB?  T/F: We are sure of what Schools will be required to meet AYP?  What is the biggest “concern” of schools for making AYP this year in Virginia

Some History  History: Title I, Chapter I and ESEA  Trojan Horse Example  First Benchmark: Highly Qualified Paraprofessionals  Next Benchmark: First set of data regarding schools failing to make Adequate Yearly Progress

Some History  State Accountablility: AKA as “Workbooks”  Virginia’s “Workbook”; timeline issues  First Set of Data release: Virginia’s Issues  Data Sets: Disaggregated Data What does that mean?

Required Pass Rates (percent)  Language Arts/Reading Passrates %  Mathematics %

Some History  In Virginia: SOL test results Beginning in Grades 3, 5, 8 and End of Course (English and Math - Guess what else use to be included?) At the end of ; 4 and 7 Addition of mathematics to middle school grades Science in middle school and high school Attendance Graduation Rates

Some History  the Nation: All the same subgroups  In Implementation Goals of NCLB 100% All Subgroups by 2014 Virginia first goals: 58 Math and 61 English Failure of ANY subgroup at any time MEANS “Failure to Make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)”

Some History  Highly Qualified Professional  Staff Development: High Quality Staff Development  School Improvement  VaDOE Requirements and Funding  Penalities: Failure to make AYP  “Title I” and Non-Title I

Some History  Supplemental Services  School Choice  Removal of Staff “responsible for the failure”  Reconstitution of the school  Reopen as a Charter School  Virginia’s Requirement for Charter Schools

Some Opinion  Relationship to Special Education i.e. “Highly Qualified”  IF adjustments are not made, public schools as currently defined and as we know them, will begin to disappear in 2014  What is the intent of the political agenda to implement Charter Schools and or Vouchers?  What is the outcome of implementation of Charter Schools and Vouchers?

Some Opinion  IF adjustments are not made, public schools as currently defined and as we know them, will begin to disappear in 2014  What is the intent of the political agenda to implement Charter Schools and or Vouchers?  What is the outcome of implementation of Charter Schools and Vouchers?

NCLB and Testing TESTING????

Currents Status/Update  What happened this year that is changing how NCLB will work with this year’s data?  What happened last week that is changing how NCLB will work with this year’s data?  Who changed the AYP data measures?

Currents Status/Update  Who also can change the entire law?  Is Virginia going to change?  What does that change do to earning AYP?  What “new” test is Virginia concerned about regarding SOL test data? Why?  Virginia’s Request for Change Virginia’s Request for Change

Additional Discussion  If you would like to have discussion about NCLB, a blog has been established for you to share your thoughts. 

Questions / Comments  Remember the importance of data! Remember the importance of data!  Questions  Comments  Thoughts  Action Plans?