No Child Left Behind Memorandum

No Child Left Behind Memorandum

Honorable Chris Cerf

RE: New Jersey and the No Child Left Behind Law

This memo is directly intended in order to engage in a discussion regarding the future state of education here in New Jersey. As the Commissioner of Education in New Jersey, you hold enormous power and influence in how the state provides for and regulates over public education and various practices pertinent to it. This memo discusses both the benefits and downfalls of the No Child Left Behind Law, and how it applies to the current situation in New Jersey. Thus, the following is extremely important information to consider regarding the No Child Left Behind Law and how it should be handled within the unique situation here in New Jersey.

There are a number of reasons why the No Child Left Behind Law looked so positive when it was being drafted in the federal government in the early years of the new millennium. Essentially, the law stipulates that funding will be provided to states in order to implement programs geared at increasing the capability of America's students to perform well in standardized testing. Unfortunately, as you may already know, many states within the U.S. have fallen incredibly behind in terms of academic performance. In this regard, it was crucial for federal legislators to design and implement systems of assessment that were reliable within a real application context. Thus, the No Child Left Behind Law and the programs it funds helps in testing to measure performance through diagnostic reporting. It also increases accountability of America's schools through stringent reporting measures of programs implemented under the law. As a condition to receive funding for program initiatives from Title I funding, states must work within federally designated provisions to steadily increase the resources available to children, thus improving their overall performance, while holding educational facilities responsible for increasing math and reading standards.

However, despite clear benefits, this law is clearly not meant for assimilation into the educational environment of Jew Jersey. Many who would oppose entering into participation with the program focus on the idea that it gives up New Jersey's inherent autonomy as a state to create its own educational standards. Essentially, it allows the federal government more authority within local education. This would intrude on local legislature's ability to more appropriately decide what is right for their own communities.

Additionally, there are a number of major flaws within the structure of the legislation itself. Inept federal leadership has resulted in slow and inefficient implementation of the law's processes, making it a dangerous gamble for New Jersey to take part. National leaders have been slow to correlate how states can adhere to the national law with greater synergy and without conflict between local and federal legislative practices. Moreover, there is not enough power behind driving challenging and innovative curriculum for schools that are already excelling. This leaves students vulnerable to missing key elements of an appropriate education.