Loud and Clear

In the last week, hundreds of education voters have taken our survey on what you want to see when Congress starts work on replacing No Child Left Behind.

Your responses were thoughtful, well-informed, innovative, and are exactly what Congress needs to hear.  As I’ve been talking to the people who work on our education laws, they all say the same thing: they want to hear from you.

Click here to send a message to Congress.  Remind them that our communities have a lot to offer when it comes to fixing our public education system.

In our survey, we asked you what worked in No Child Left Behind, what didn’t, and what you’d like to see in the next version of the law.  Here’s some of what education voters across the country had to say:

What’s the single biggest problem with No Child Left Behind?

  • “The singular focus on testing rather than on learning for the joy of learning.” – Michigan
  • “It is punitive rather than supportive.” – New York
  • “Tests should be achievement-oriented, not just graduation-oriented.” – Ohio

What part of No Child Left Behind should be carried over into the law that replaces it?

  • “There are certainly benefits to collecting and analyzing data to guide instruction.” – Ohio
  • “Requiring schools to hire qualified teachers.” – California
  • “Nothing.” – Pennsylvania

What new elements do you think should be covered by any new education law?

  • “Child-centered education, more individual attention.” – Delaware
  • “Pre-school education available to every child.” – Michigan
  • “Serious, heavy-duty professional development for teachers and administrators.” – New York

Parents, teachers, students, community leaders, and dedicated activists like you have spent years on the front lines of education reform, learning first-hand what parts of the federal laws work, what don’t, and what needs to happen next.  You have a big stake in this fight, and you bring a lot to the table.

We’re going to keep talking to the people who work on our education laws, and so should you.  Please share your experiences with Congress, and ask them to listen to the real experts when they write the next bill.

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