State Senate Aims to Replace No Child Left Behind.
Air Date:02/09/2012
The State Senate passed legislation that puts new assessment standards in place of No Child Left Behind.
Critics of No Child Left Behind claim it's a flawed system that doesn't give an accurate assessment of education quality.
The legislation, Senate Bill 25, is backed by the South Dakota Department of Education.
Republican State Senator Mark Johnson argued in favor of the measure on the Senate floor.
"Senate bill 25 allows us, as a state, to establish a better model of accountability, one that focuses on continuous on going improvement in our schools. Specifically, Senate Bill 25 would pave the way for an accountability model that relies on multiple measures rather than a single assessment delivered once a year," says Johnston.
Proponents say the new standards will focus on four main indicators student achievement, student growth, teacher and principal effectiveness, and career and college redness.
Opponents claim the goals laid out won't really measure success in education.
The measure went on to pass by a vote of 31 to 4 it will next be heard in the House.
Download Audio Here.