Education Issues Will Have to Wait on Economy, UA Education Professor Predicts

While fulfilling some campaign promises, such as full funding for “No Child Left Behind (NCLB),” may prove elusive for President-elect Obama during the current economic downturn, the act will receive some attention and support through stimulus packages, such as the Economic Recovery Plan in 2009, predicts Dr. Marcia Rock, associate professor of education at The University of Alabama.

“The NCLB Act of 2002 will likely remain idle for some time simply because education will continue to take a back seat to more pressing national concerns. Nonetheless, when NCLB reauthorizations do manage to take center stage under President-elect Obama’s watch, look for sweeping changes aimed at fulfilling its original intent of making schools a better place for all children,” said Rock

Rock said that the reauthorization of NCLB will include more than a few major overhauls, including but not limited to:

• Renewed emphasis on the educational bookends: Providing high quality early childhood education services and reducing the dropout rate.

• Revised timetable for all students to achieve academic proficiency (average yearly progress [AYP]) as well as a mandate for use of multiple assessment measures to evaluate attainment if it.

• Continued commitment to close the achievement gap for students who have been traditionally left behind, including those with disabilities, those who are culturally diverse, those who are English Language Learners, and those who are economically disadvantaged.

• Increased effort to improve teacher quality through enhanced approaches to preparation, recruitment, and retention.

Rock also predicts a new name for this legislation.

“Key stakeholders hold too many negative connotations about NCLB. Look for the NCLB Act to be renamed the ‘Successful Schools Act,’ ‘the 21st Century Education Act,’ ‘the Closing the Gap Act,’ or the “Restoring the Promise Act of 2009,’ any one of which captures the positive change Obama and his education transition team leaders seek to promote,” Rock said.