Is NCLB closing the achievement gap?

“The reason for all the caveats is that it is impossible to reach the conclusion that if scores go up, it is because of N.C.L.B.,” he said. “There are so many other factors that could lead to rising scores, including state efforts to raise achievement, and also, some of these gains may be artificial. So my worry is that people who come at it and don’t read the caveats will come away with an exaggerated impression.” --Robert L. Linn, Professor Emeritus at the University of Colorado

The above is a quote taken from an article in the today's New York Times that reports on a recent study that finds that the achievement gap is closing and student gains are on the rise. The study, conducted by the Center on Education Policy, compared test data from all 50 states and found that general achievement in math and reading has risen since 2002.

I agree with the quote above. I think one of the biggest mistakes that people (including teachers, administrators, and the community) make when talking about NCLB is that they forget about the vast number of other factors that come in to play. If the test scores are on the rise, it is a very bold claim to credit NCLB as the single reason for these improvements. Rather, we need to remember that schools take on their own initiatives and adopt new programs because they feel it is necessary or beneficial. While NCLB may be a big proponent in getting schools to implement these programs, it is important to remember that there are other motivators besides potential loss of federal funding.

Source:
Dillon, Sam (2007, June 6). New study finds gains since no child left behind. The New York Times, Retrieved June 6, 2007, from http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/06/education/06report.htmlex=
1181793600&en=1ccc9886c6d043bf&ei=5024&partner=BLACKBOARD.