NCLB...10 Years Later

Last month, Time Magazine published an interview with George W. Bush as he reflected on the past 10 years with No Child Left Behind (NCLB). You can read the article here: http://ideas.time.com/2012/01/12/lets-not-weaken-it-an-exclusive-interview-with-george-w-bush-on-nclb/ 

When Bush signed the legislation into law some 10 years ago, the overarching goal was to close the achievement gap between the varied populations of ethnicity and socio-economic status.  So where are we now? It seems its a mixed bag ... making progress in some areas and not in others. I'll let you look at SAT scores over the past 20 years and decide for yourself:

http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=171

Side note: Once you see the SAT scores, it's easy to understand why the Common Core State Standards push literacy into every area of education ... as well is should be. 

So what do you think? Has NCLB been positive for American education? Has it been detrimental? Or have some parts of it worked while others haven't?  

Personally, I favor the last statement ... there have been benefits.  I consider the benefits to include a real concerted effort to evaluate every student and truly consider the education of ALL students. To be true to its name, No Child Left Behind, did force educators to monitor the progress of every student more so than ever before. However, I believe it is largely a failure when you consider real numbers collected with the same test (SAT) that reflects common outcomes ... like the SAT. Let's not forget the dollars spent on creating and administering tests in each state. Let's also not forget classroom time lost for the days of testing students must undergo each year and the stress so many children feel as they take the test hoping to pass because if they don't, they could be held back in the same grade; giving up a year's effort to get through it.  

To be fair, here are a few sites that reign in on both sides:

Yea: 

http://ideas.time.com/2012/01/06/in-defense-of-no-child-left-behind/

Nay:

http://www.thegrio.com/education-1/no-child-left-behind-ten-years-later-does-bush-legislation-get-a-passing-grade.php

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/07/no-child-left-behind_n_1191206.html

So where is it going from here?

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/north_america/jan-june10/nclb_03-17.html

So, today's question to ponder remains:

Has NCLB been positive for American education? Has it been detrimental? Or have some parts of it worked while others haven't?  

What are your thoughts?