Education Month: Fixing No Child Left Behind

President Barack Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan continued their travels for Education Month, speaking to a group of students, teachers, parents, and district officials at Kenmore Middle School in Arlington, VA, on March 14. President Obama emphasized again the importance of investing in education to ensure a successful future for our children and our country. Democrats and Republicans are working together to draft an education bill to reform No Child Left Behind. The President has asked Congress to present him with an education reform bill before the start of the next school year. He said that No Child Left Behind has the right goals: educate every child, have high standards, increase accountability, and eliminate achievement gaps. There are two main areas that need to be improved: how schools are labeled and identified and how student achievement is assessed. Progress needs to be noted and rewarded, and schools and students that are struggling need to be given the means to improve.