The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act focuses on standardized testing in all American schools. It is the Bush administration's sweeping educational reform, aimed at improving the performance of the nation's public schools by introducing accountability. Supporters of the act claim that it will increase the performance of all school children by raising the standards and allowing parents greater freedom in choosing the school they want their child to attend. The act also puts in place a system of punishment for schools if their student body does not perform to the standards set down by the National government (NCLB act). As well as increasing standards, this act also encourages teachers to use a curriculum that the government developed with "scientifically based research" (a phrase that appears 111 times in the act) (Hammond 4). While standardized curriculum and increased standards seem like they would improve children's learning, in reality it hurts them by pushing them too hard academically instead of focusing on social development, and denying them specialized attention based upon their individual abilities. The debate surrounding this has become a significant topic since the Act is currently under review and could be in the process of reauthorization. At the time of its inception, both political parties (Republicans and Democrats) supported the NCLB Act, however, both parties are now arguing over its validity. In 2005, there have been slight \adjustments to the regulations first set in 2005 by the Department of Education, but the revisions were not enough to gain full support from both parties. This act has failed to garner support from most Americans, and like most Americans, I also agree that this should not be reinstituted. No Child Left Behind was designed by the Bush administration to reduce the "learning gap" between different groups of students and to ensure better teacher equality. However, it sets fourth a method of measuring…
