If you are not already aware of it, No Child Left Behind needs to be re-enacted. The bill, which was only meant to last five years, is currently under review as are scores of other reform initiatives as law makers and administrators try to figure out the best way to correct the growing problems in our education system. While there are literally hundreds of ideas floating about, four seem to stand out.
1.Merit Pay: Some states have already made the move towards implementing some sort of pay based on merit, most notably Michigan. The idea is to reward teachers not for how many years they have been teaching, but for how effective they are at their jobs. In theory, a merit-based system would produce more dedicated teachers, something we are sorely in need of.
2.Standards: Any way you look at it, there is a problem with our system of standards. Currently, each state has their own set, with varying degrees of ‘toughness.’ Moving to a federal standard is one option as is dictating how ‘tough’ states should be required to make their own.
3.Teaching V. Testing: We simply must find a way out of the never ending cycling of teaching to the test. Perhaps standardized tests should be done away with entirely or maybe they should be made more inclusive and cover subjects other than reading and math.
4.Evaluation: Implementing a system under which teacher and administrator effectiveness is evaluated, perhaps in conjunction with merit pay, may be the best way to ensure that our teachers and administrators are actively seeking to tie their effectiveness to their student’s performance.
Whether these reforms are enacted, or others, something must be done to address our national epidemic of poor education. Our students and the future of our country depend on it.
