New Column: Replacing No Child Left Behind with Something Worse

No Child Left Behind (NCLB) looms large in the world of U.S. education policy, of course, but its arresting name has granted it top tier name recognition in American politics. It's also become famous for being almost universally reviled.

That's why I've been surprised that mainstream media outlets have spent relatively little time covering Congress' efforts to replace NCLB with a new bill, the "Every Student Succeeds Act." It's not for lack of interesting story angles: the bill has considerable bipartisan support, and it's sailed over procedural hurdles like the "conference committee" (which was charged with combining the House and Senate's versions into a single bill).

This inattention is a shame. Because it's not a good bill. Indeed, it's even less likely than NCLB to make a difference for underserved students. Why? Well, as I put it in a new column for The 74 Million...

[The bill] serves the political needs of most members of Congress and protects a variety of special interest groups. It combines a thin veneer of civil rights equity with excruciating complexity and uncertain accountability. It takes a relatively simple federal accountability system, removes the teeth, and layers on a bunch of vague responsibilities for states.

Click here to read the whole column."