Speaking of the federal No Child Left Behind Act, which celebrated its 5th anniversary yesterday, the education world is abuzz about this article by Michael J. Petrilli, a former U.S. Education Department official under President George W. Bush and a one-time vocal supporter of the law. In his essay, Mr. Petrilli (now vice president for national programs and policy at the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation) pretty much yanks his support and points out everything that has gone wrong. The Salt Lake Tribune, located in pro-Bush Utah, which early in the law’s implementation led the state charge against No Child Left Behind, features a story on Mr. Petrilli’s comments. (You can read Education Week‘s take on Utah’s role in a 1995 NCLB rebellion here.)
The education blogs are weighing in too. Eduwonk calls Mr. Petrilli’s solutions to the NCLB problem “unappetizing.” Edspresso comments on the brouhaha with this discussion and also provides another view on NCLB highlighting this essay by Dan Lips of the conservative Heritage Foundation.