March 14, 2011--In a speech at
Kenmore Middle School in Arlington, VA, President Barack Obama called
for reform of No Child Left Behind "so that we can have accountability
without rigidity
-- accountability that still encourages creativity inside the
classroom, and empowers teachers and students and
administrators." No
Child Left Behind is the reauthorization of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act that President Bush signed into law in
2002.
Obama said that, "The goals of No
Child
Left Behind were the right goals." However, he said, "We need to
not only hold failing schools accountable, we need to
help turn those schools around. In the 21st century, it’s not
enough
to leave no child behind. We need to help every child get
ahead. We
need to get every child on a path to academic excellence." (transcript and fact sheet) Obama
has made several school visits recently to speak on education as part
of what the Administration has dubbed "Education Month." |