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January 10, 2008

NCLB - setting the record straight

The differences between Senate candidates Jeff Merkley and Steve Novick's plans for how to deal with No Child Left Behind have been much ballyhooed across the Oregon blogosphere. At issue seems to be Novick's call to eliminate NCLB compared to Merkley's call to "improve" it.

But as The Oregonian's Jeff Mapes says, "in the end, it may be a distinction without much of a difference."

Why? Because Merkley's improvements amount to rolling back the clock to the pre-NCLB state level decision making without giving up the extra funding that NCLB has brought to Oregon. Novick wants to roll back the clock to pre-NCLB state level decision making and also doesn't want to give up the extra funding from NCLB.

While it's easy for partisans to criticize Merkley for not wanting to get rid of NCLB completely, the reality is that Novick really doesn't either... otherwise he wouldn't want to hold onto the extra money that NCLB brought in.

As always, take what partisans (including me) say with a grain or two of salt. Investigate whatever the issue is for yourself. Only then will you be able to discern who is blowing smoke and who is being straight with you.

Posted by Kevin at January 10, 2008 10:23 AM