No Child Left Behind Penalties

The No Child Left Behind Vise Is Being Tightened Each Year

May 10, 2006
Barbara Pytel

No Child Left Behind has been in place for several years. Goals are not being met by many schools. Is the federal government really going to enforce the penalties?

NCLB guidelines gave schools five years to develop a plan and improve scores. 1750 schools so far have failed to do so. It is predicted that thousands of schools will be in the "restructuring" stage in a year or two.

Michael Petrilli, a former enforcement official at the Education Department and now vice-president at the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation, a school change advocate stated, "It's just a matter of time before we see upwards of 10,000 schools in restructuring."

What's the Timeline?

Schools have five years to develop a plan and show growth. In year six, the government can begin intervening and demanding changes.

What Changes?

Hire an independent organization to run the school.
Change leadership (terminate administration) and reopen as a charter school.
Replace staff with new or allow teachers to reapply for their former positions.
Turn the school over to the state, if the state agrees.
Allow students to transfer to other schools.
Select other major restructuring options.

The Education Department doesn't tell schools what they need to do. They are free to develop their own plan. However, the Education Department does monitor the progress.

Michigan

The State of Michigan has opted to make various radical changes and many schools have improved test scores. This does give hope to other states.

Arizona

The Lawrence Intermediate School in Tucson, Arizona failed to show progress. Result? The district ordered all employees, from janitors to teachers, to reapply for their former jobs. They have made the following changes.