Public School Reform

Public school reform has long been a topic of great controversy in our nation's history. From local issues to national trends, changes to the educational system can have a far-reaching impact, not only on the education of children but on the path our nation will follow for years to come. In recent memory, the greatest public school reform came with the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act, a legislation designed to create a greater sense of accountability in our nation's schools. However, with any attempt at reform, there was significant controversy, both in the foundation of the legislation and the manner in which it was implemented. Some claimed that the legislation did not work to provide failing schools with adequate support; others argued that it held teachers accountable for the success of their students, ensuring a higher quality of education in the long run. As with any reform, though, this controversy will remain unsettled, with further changes to the educational system hopefully addressing any clear gaps in the effectiveness of the initial reform.

Examples of Public School Reform

Examples of Public School Reform:

• No Child Left Behind
• Voucher Systems
• Prayer in School
• School Lunch Programs
• Standardized Testing

Reform can take place in a variety of ways. Some public school reforms are locally-based, such as the selection of a new textbook or the decision whether to teach evolution, Creationism, Intelligent Design, or some combination of the group. Others can occur at the state level, such as the use of the voucher system to give families greater options in the selection of their child's education. Still others, like No Child Left Behind, take place at the federal level, encompassing sweeping changes that are to be applied to all schools equally and are designed to create a universal set of experiences for all students in the nation.