I believe that one way we could improve our education system is to make sure that all first grade students learn to read. In my experience (almost 30 years) Reading Recovery is the best possible intervention for struggling first grade readers. It is a highly successful program but most school districts do away with it because of cost (more teachers and the continued training). It does however keep students from being retained and/or from being referred to special education. Votes: +0

Education has never asked for a bailout, and for years we have operated on a shoestring budget. Now, when the carmakers experience a slowdown, they put their hands out and get millions without strings attached or any accountability. Why does the Education system in the most powerful nation of the world continue to be treated like a second class citizen. It is time for the Education Community to step up and ask for our "bailout". It has long been overdue and the accountability has been in place for years. Join me by contacting your representative or senator. Go to www.nea.org. Votes: +2

I think getting input from state officials is a step in the right direction. I think most will agree that in spite of its shortcomings, NCLB has resulted in some improvements in the education our children receive. If more substantive and lasting change is to be achieved I think the federal government is going to have to reach out more to the states and build consensus and team. Now is an opportunity to create a system wide change as well as foster system thinking where all constituents have a sense of ownership in what is happening.
Accountability is important but it is time stake-holders had a larger voice by having an opportunity to voice opinions. In the state in which I teach in the process of changing the standards, the state department of education requested that teachers look at the standards before they were "rolled out" and give feedback about what they liked or did not like. As a result changes were made that better reflected what teachers felt was important. The federal government can get similar feedback from state department of educations across the nation as they review and revise NCLB. Votes: +0