The CalTV Project

Story

In 2001, the Bush administration passed the “No Child Left Behind Act”. It promised to keep teachers, administrators and schools accountable for the education of our nation. By administering annual standardized tests to 3rd through 8th graders throughout the nation,
allowing states the freedom to set their own standards. Schools that do not meet passing standards or show signs of improvement risk denial of federal and state funding as well as closure. National results show improvement all over the country, but specifically in California,
there is a growing disparity in the results of affluent and poor students as well as between white and minority students leading to
question whether this system is an efficient barometer of accountability. For instance, the Act does not take into account schools lacking in funding, impoverished student bodies, and special needs students. Amongst other school districts, the Bay Area schools are being affected by the law, because of failure to pass these standardized tests. Schools are closing down, crowding other schools in the district while other schools are narrowing down their curriculum to exclude every subject except those tested: math and reading. Is the future of our college population at risk by this tunnel vision teaching or is method the only way to keep teachers and schools accountable for teaching our youth?