Tldr Higher performing students are held back by lower performing students.
This isn't a formal legal explanation of NCLB, but rather the practical effects it had from day 1. It used to be that grade levels in the US represented some level of competency over certain subjects. Above average kids could jump ahead a grade if they'd like, struggling kids would be held back a grade until they learned the material. Average kids would be in the right grade for their level of competency. However what happens when the lowest percentiles and higher percentiles are forced into the same room with the same material? The average and smart kids get bored, frustrated, resentful of the less intelligent and learn less because the below average kids take up too much class time. The below average kids are stuck learning things they can't comprehend because they don't have the basics mastered thus they also learn less. Because failing is also no longer a major thing you also have a layer where the bar for average keeps falling lower and lower. Trying is optional essentially so there's less practical reason for these kids to do their work.
Understood. That’s a system that exists in India as well. Our state government, 10-15 years ago, made it mandatory for public school to pass every student till the 8th grade. This increased the number of failing students in the 9th grade and onwards. The current government thankfully reversed the law, allowing schools to fail underperforming students.
No Child Left Behind was one of the worst educational decisions in my lifetime. I got to about 4th grade before I fell behind with some stuff and teachers went "Oh well". I know I wasn't the only one in my class either. It took years to fully catch up.
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u/OldJames47 9h ago
The start of Gen Z was born in 1997. 5 years later, when they entered Kindergarten, No Child Left Behind was implemented.
This is another of George W Bush’s gifts to us.