Many Children Left Behind: The Problems with the Promises of Accountability in Education

Abstract

This paper begins with a brief history of accountability in education law, followed by a closer examination of accountability and its role in NCLBA. The paper then examines some key problems and concerns with the effectiveness and implementation of NCLBA. Congress designed NCLBA as an accountability system to ensure that all children have an opportunity to obtain a high quality education. Many of the ways NCLBA seeks to create equity in educational opportunities are through special emphasis on improving the educational achievement of disadvantaged children. Accordingly, the paper focuses specifically on the effect of NCLBA on disadvantaged children. The paper closes with some recommendations for policy makers as they try to create a law that truly will do what it promises: leave no child behind. [From introductory section]