No Child Left Behind

George W Bush program on Educational Reform. Driven mainly by Standardized Test-s.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Child_Left_Behind_Act

It is... technically optional: States need not comply with NCLB, as long as they are willing to forgo the federal funding that comes with it.

• The Barrington Il school district gets 3% of its funds from the Feds, and 8% from the State.
• What if a school district wanted to opt out? What if a single school wanted to?

May'2012: 18 states have been granted waivers so far... in exchange for state-developed plans to prepare all students for college and career, focus aid on the neediest students, and support effective teaching and leadership. Which makes it sound to me like

• the standards aren't standard
• an increase in micro-management from the federal Department Of Education.

Waivers have been granted to 32 states! (Rule Of Law) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Child_Left_Behind_Act#Waivers

Because this wasn't quite stupid enough, Barack Obama added Race To The Top.