Dr Rich McGrath Blogs about No Child Left Behind

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Dr.  Rich McGrath (www.drrichmcgrath.com) is an expert in all phases of education, particularly versed in school-wide reform of inner city schools; with experience leading a school of students with over 90% poverty and over 60% English Language Learners.

Dr. McGrath suggested in a recent blog that No Child Left Behind is a wash. The goal of NCLB was for all students to reach 100% proficiency in reading and mathematics by the year 2014.  According to the National Assessment Educational Progress (NAEP), national reading scores have been virtually stagnant since the beginning of the assessment in 1970’s with some improvements sited (NAEP, 2012) in mathematics.

There are many things wrong with NCLB. It permitted states to create their own high-stakes assessment and determine self-determined levels of proficiency. This formula made it impossible for states to be compared. One state may appear to be successful at producing proficient students, but actually have a lower bar for achievement.

Additionally, NCLB treated all school demographics the same. This one-size-fits-all approach demanded achievement for all children be measured identically as if all children came from the same home environments. It disregarded other factors of achievement, including poverty and children learning English as a second language

Now there is a national trend that will eventually disembowel NCLB. States have started applying for waivers to excuse them from the strict regulations of the law. The federal government estimates that eventually all states will have approved waivers from NCLB. Some teachers and principals will celebrate that states will now have the freedom to modify a draconian law into something that will meet individual states’ needs.

To get the waiver, each state must develop a plan to improve the educational outcomes of students, close the achievement gap, and improve the quality of teachers and the instruction delivered.  Dr. McGrath has served as principal since 2004. Before his career as a principal, he was a reading consultant for Northwest Area Education Agency for five years; a classroom teacher for fifteen years for Sioux City Community Schools, Iowa and Aurora Public Schools, Colorado.

A graduate of University of Denver, Colorado, Dr. McGrath studied education under Ellin Oliver Keene, noted education author. Dr. McGrath received his Master’s in School Administration from University of Northern Iowa and then earned his doctorate from The University of South Dakota in Curriculum and Instruction.

School Administrators of Iowa recognized Dr. Richard McGrath as one of the leading elementary school principals in Iowa in 2011.  Dr. McGrath’s passion is to ensure that all children are reading at grade level or better.  McGrath has served as principal in a diverse school district in Iowa for nearly a decade.  His blogs are updated regularly and thousands of followers are watching and tweeting this academic thought leader.  Sign up for Twitter to follow Dr. Rich McGrath @drrichmcgrath.  Insights, news, and best-practices can be followed daily.