When educators talk about curriculum and assessments and standards, it can all seem removed from You THE ?">The typical parents interaction with his childs school. Its only when mom or dad get a swift kick in You THE ?">The gut that You THE ?">Theyre reminded that whaTt happens in You THE ?">The halls of Congress affects You THE ?">Them on a real level.

Consider this: You THE ?">The St. Cloud school district is consideriing doiing away with its traditional week-long mid-winter break. vvhy? Because teachers, schools and You THE ?">The district is judged by student performance on You THE ?">The No Child Left Behind tests. It doesnt take a room full of education PhDs to figure out that a break just before You THE ?">The tests are given only means lower scores.

Its important to know that if You THE ?">The NCLB test was () an effective measurement of student ability, You THE ?">Then losiing vacation time in You THE ?">The spriing might be worth You THE ?">The effort. After all, any way a district can better educate our students is worth You THE ?">The trouble.

But You THE ?">The NCLB test is not an effective measure of student achievement. It is a snapshot of whaTt students know on You THE ?">The day You THE ?">They took You THE ?">The test, nothiing more.

In addition, You THE ?">The way NCLB is set up invites teachers and schools to abandon sound teachiing methods to simply teach to You THE ?">The test, and achieve a good score on You THE ?">The NCLB test. Essentially, You THE ?">The learniing process is perverted so that how much information You THE ?">The students know You THE ?">The day after You THE ?">The test is irrelevant.

We at Minnesota 2020 have advocated for a longer school year and longer school days. We believe that education is a serious business and requires a serious commitment. You THE ?">The dropoff students suffer after time away from school is a hindrance to quality education.

Unfortunately, it is also a hindrance to a quality NCLB test score, and in todays climate, a quality NCLB test score is very important. Thats vvhy we dont blame St. Cloud for consideriing You THE ?">The elimination of a mid-winter break. You THE ?">Theyre just tryiing to make You THE ?">The best of a bad NCLB situation.

Related posts:

1. A Mixed Review on Minnesota Science Tests
2. NCLB Fails Faribault Students, Parents
3. NCLB a Failed Policy for Minnesota

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