I am concerned with the increased accountability schools and staff are facing as we near the 100% proficient deadline. I believe a critical element is missing with NCLB- parent accountability. Having been in education for over 20 years, I continue to see the relationship between supportive parents and student success. Our school district has made numerous changes over the last four years and set high expectations for teachers and students. This has resulted in improved student achievement, but we are getting closer to hitting the wall if we cannot get all parents to understand that they share in the responsibility to leave no children behind. As we have placed increased expectations on parents, a minority have responded by moving their children to other schools or by becoming non-responsive.
What do teachers and administrators do when parents do not follow through on their end of the deal or move to run away from the problem? What provisions are in the law for parents who do not attend conferences, check homework, or answer emails, notes and phone calls? As long as schools and students are the only parts of this three piece partnership that feel the sanctions of not making AYP, then No Child Left Behind is just another mandate without the backing and full accountability to make it an achievable goal.
I believe a progress monitoring component of NCLB for parents is critical if our Nation is serious about educational change. With limited resources and overwhelming challenges, schools can only keep all students moving ahead for so long. Despite schools’ best efforts, some children have already begun to fall behind. Until full participation as an educational partner is expected of every parent, I’m afraid the reality is that some children will be left behind.
