The No Child Left Behind Bill was meant to level the playing field between wealthy and poor districts, but it failed in its purpose. Accountability under the act hinged entirely on test scores, yet success must be measured in other ways if we are truly trying to save our floundering education system. We need to be monitoring which students have access to quality athletic and artistic programs, whether or not students are succeeding in Honors and/or AP Classes, which schools are understaffed, which schools have certified, experienced teachers, and which students have access to the types of support systems they need such as tutors, librarians, counselors, nurses, and more. 

 

Real equal opportunity needs real equity. Reform needs to be tailored made to the students who need it most. Emphasis on test scores have resulted in teaching to a test rather than teaching to a future. This needs to change - we need to encourage schools to put an emphasis on critical thinking, debate, the arts, and scientific method because these aspects will be truly beneficial to students in their future. To help those in high poverty school districts, we need reform targeted at more comprehensive and holistic measures of success. This country needs government-funded subsidies to school districts where more than ⅔ of the population lives beneath the federal poverty line. The public education system is seriously lacking the teachers necessary to supply an adequate, acceptable education. The federal government must provide incentives such as a minimum wage of $47,000 to employ more teachers and improve the student to teacher ratio in schools nationwide. 

 

And at the top of our priority list is to implement free college. Children already are provided education from K-12; what more is it to fund education from K-16? Young adults are some of the most important individuals of our society. They are at a level of maturity that allows them the maximum contribution to society, and this potential must be unlocked by ensuring free college for all. It goes without saying that the entire education system needs more funding. Cuts to the education budget must not stand. Funding must be returned to the education sector. The youth are our future - we must invest in education to encourage the growth of America as a whole.