On sandiego.com we find suggested changes by the Bush administration for the No Child Left Behind Law. Proposed changes for the law are:
- Holding schools accountable for science scores, something not currently in the law.
- Requiring states to publish a report card showing how students do on state tests compared to a rigorous national test. That could put pressure on states to strengthen their assessments and standards.
- Making tutoring more widely available.
- Giving schools more flexibility in meeting annual progress goals, such as giving those that make significant strides but fall short of benchmarks credit for the progress they did make.
Bush would also like to give poor students the option to attend private schools by using vouchers. Now that Congress is controlled by Democrats, vouchers will not stand much of a chance.
California Democratic Rep. George Miller, who chairs the House committee overseeing education, called the initiative a "failed idea" that would be rejected.
In support of the voucher system, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Joel Kaplan said, "This is not for every kid in America. This is for those kids who are trapped in the absolute worst schools that just don't seem to be capable, or willing, to make the changes necessary to serve those students well."
With private schools being so picky about accepting students, and let's face it, so expensive, how could vouchers work? Would vouchers cover the full costs of tuition and books? Private schools have some pretty tough tests that their students are expected to pass. Would these be waived for students attending with vouchers? If anybody knows the answers to these questions, I would love to hear them.