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Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Schools Matter: In SC (and across US), Don’t jump from NCLB to more of the same

Schools Matter: In SC (and across US), Don’t jump from NCLB to more of the same:

In SC (and across US), Don’t jump from NCLB to more of the same

Don’t jump from NCLB to more of the same

South Carolina appears poised, along with the majority of states, to opt out of the controversial and punitive No Child Left Behind law.

Education Superintendent Mick Zais, Gov. Nikki Haley and state legislators should proceed with caution with this the U.S. Department of Education’s offer to grant waivers, as it’s unclear whether this opportunity will prove to be positive or negative. It could be yet another bureaucratic disaster for public schools, or it could signal a shift away from partisan politics and toward evidence-based school reform.

No Child Left Behind has been used by administrations of both parties to force states into policies and practices that do more harm than good — for example, Reading First under George W. Bush and Race to the Top under