No Child Left Behind

[Rachel2]

Has anyone heard about this bill? Can this possibly be true?

Please read & pass this on to EVERYONE you know.
Our ancestor's fought too hard for us to get a fair education and We can NOT afford our children, our future to fall victims to this...We have to stay involved and in our children's lives, let's make education mandatory to our youth not optional.

The "Certificate of Completion or Attendance" that is being offered
in lieu of high school diplomas, is a part of Bush's "No Child Left
Behind".
This is how it works:

It is for students who are unable to pass both the Language Arts and
Math portions of the 10th grade State Student Assessment Exams
Students must take the same 10th grade test over in the 11th and 12th
grades until they pass both portions. If they are unable to pass the
10th grade test by the 12th grade then they have two options:

1. Drop out and go to a GED program or,
2. accept a "Certificate of Completion" - it is NOT a diploma. Once a
student accepts it, they cannot ever get a diploma or a GED. A
certificate of completion means that a student can never (as long as
they live):

1. go to the armed services
2. go to college
3. go to trade school
4. go to journeyman's school
5. go to beauty school
6. go to culinary arts school
7. get a federal loan in their lifetime

This is the portion of NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND (2001) that Bush slipped
in during the 2004 revision of the NCLB bill. It has not been
publicized. At a high school in Indiana, in 2005, there were 87 seniors
in the graduation class. Five got diplomas and 82 got "Certificates of
Completion".

This is being referred to as the "Paper Plantation". It is
better for students to drop out and get into a GED program so they may
seek other forms of education, later in life, if they desire to do so.
All 50 states have "Certificates of Completion or Attendance".

[Nikkol]

I think that we should go to the official website on this:

www.ed.gov/nclb/landing.jhtml?src=ln

Here's an excerpt:

OVERVIEW

Four Pillars of NCLB


No Child Left Behind is based on stronger accountability for results, more freedom for states and communities, proven education methods, and more choices for parents.

Stronger Accountability for Results
Under No Child Left Behind, states are working to close the achievement gap and make sure all students, including those who are disadvantaged, achieve academic proficiency. Annual state and school district report cards inform parents and communities about state and school progress. Schools that do not make progress must provide supplemental services, such as free tutoring or after-school assistance; take corrective actions; and, if still not making adequate yearly progress after five years, make dramatic changes to the way the school is run.

More Freedom for States and Communities
Under No Child Left Behind, states and school districts have unprecedented flexibility in how they use federal education funds. For example, it is possible for most school districts to transfer up to 50 percent of the federal formula grant funds they receive under the Improving Teacher Quality State Grants, Educational Technology, Innovative Programs, and Safe and Drug-Free Schools programs to any one of these programs, or to their Title I program, without separate approval. This allows districts to use funds for their particular needs, such as hiring new teachers, increasing teacher pay, and improving teacher training and professional development.

Proven Education Methods
No Child Left Behind puts emphasis on determining which educational programs and practices have been proven effective through rigorous scientific research. Federal funding is targeted to support these programs and teaching methods that work to improve student learning and achievement. In reading, for example, No Child Left Behind supports scientifically based instruction programs in the early grades under the Reading First program and in preschool under the Early Reading First program.

More Choices for Parents
Parents of children in low-performing schools have new options under No Child Left Behind. In schools that do not meet state standards for at least two consecutive years, parents may transfer their children to a better-performing public school, including a public charter school, within their district. The district must provide transportation, using Title I funds if necessary. Students from low-income families in schools that fail to meet state standards for at least three years are eligible to receive supplemental educational services, including tutoring, after-school services, and summer school. Also, students who attend a persistently dangerous school or are the victim of a violent crime while in their school have the option to attend a safe school within their district.

Or this: www.ncset.org/publications/viewdesc.asp?id=1928 which gives an understanding of all different types of diploma options.

[livinganewlife]

Rachel where did you get this inforamtion?

[Jasmine]

The information Rachel has is correct, those Certificates have already been issued.

[Rachel2]

livinganewlife, someone emailed this to me at work.

Nikkol, the site that you gave for information about types of diplomas only talks about diploma options for Students with Disabilities, unless I have overlooked something.

Jasmine, you said that the certificates have already been issued ...does this mean everything that goes along with them is true?

[livinganewlife]

rachel2 said:

livinganewlife, someone emailed this to me at work.

Nikkol, the site that you gave for information about types of diplomas only talks about diploma options for Students with Disabilities, unless I have overlooked something.

Jasmine, you said that the certificates have already been issued ...does this mean everything that goes along with them is true?

I pray this is not true especially the other conditions that goes along with it.............

[Jasmine]

I am not positive about the rest of the information, but am almost positive that the State of California already issues " certificates of completion". The kids don't actually graduate, and are required to come back during the summer to take those assessment exams.

[Rachel2]

Lord help us!!!

[Nikkol]

I think it depends on what your state chooses.

[MsKayLander]

from what I read and understand is that this is at the discretion of the state... MD does not have that law... you have until 12th grade to pass the test and if you don't pass you won't graduate... does say anything about if you accept this certificate you can't get into any colleges... you just did not complete the state testing recommendations for graduation, but completed the educational requirements for graduation...

[And Such Were Some Of You]

Can't this be avoided if we find out why our kids aren't passing the tests and get them the help that they need in order to do so??

We cannot blame Bush for slipping anything, anywhere IMO.

[krazeeboi]

This part doesn't sound believable to me:

2. accept a "Certificate of Completion" - it is NOT a diploma. Once a
student accepts it, they cannot ever get a diploma or a GED. A
certificate of completion means that a student can never (as long as
they live):

1. go to the armed services
2. go to college
3. go to trade school
4. go to journeyman's school
5. go to beauty school
6. go to culinary arts school
7. get a federal loan in their lifetime

[hezsweetiknow]

krazeeboi said:

This part doesn't sound believable to me:

2. accept a "Certificate of Completion" - it is NOT a diploma. Once a
student accepts it, they cannot ever get a diploma or a GED. A
certificate of completion means that a student can never (as long as
they live):

1. go to the armed services
2. go to college
3. go to trade school
4. go to journeyman's school
5. go to beauty school
6. go to culinary arts school
7. get a federal loan in their lifetime

Some of it sounds very believeable to me. I know for a fact that if a young man does not register with draft services by a certain age, they cannot receive federal loans and lose other federal benefits. It's been awhile since we ran the story, I can't remember what else.

But it all SOUNDS very possible.

[hezsweetiknow]

Most of what we do here in Texas is teach for the blasted test. But I digress.

[Nikkol]

ASWSOY: I agree. Honestly, our kids need to know their basics. If they aren't passing, we need to find out why. It should be a whatever it takes.

What is causing people not to pass the test.

Now that I just re-read what it stated, I know in Philly, if you don't pass the test than you repeat the grade. The question becomes is it better to just let someone keep being "passed" to the next grade and not know the basics? Of find out the problems earlier and fix it?