Congress Passing a New 'No Child Left Behind' Is a No Brainer

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@ the junior from Oregon. Sorry I can't help myself...maybe you should learn how to conduct actual research before you publically announce your uneducated opinions and remind us all why the public school system is failing, even in Oregon. Not that I necessarily agree with the ‘I have a better plan’ comment but in light of yours: The Washington Post is not a valid source. You need to read and then site real research and lots of it. In the grown-up world, a pie-chart just doesn’t cut it. Also this particular pie chart is about the federal budget, go look at how much money states spend on education. In Arkansas the majority of the education is from local mils. More money on education is just like small classes, it doesn’t make a lick of difference on student achievement. And student achievement, that’s what matters. If you want to look at how much more money we’ve spent on education, you should make comparisons to 1980, when this newest wind of ed reform started. I’ll even let you find that 1980 pie graph yourself. But to help you with knowing what research you should read about spending and achievement, here are a few links:
http://s3.amazonaws.com/thf_media/2008/pdf/bg2179.pdf
http://www.parkergop.org/2010-06-RR07-EducationGrowth-BT-BW-BP-post.pdf
and a personal favorite
http://press.princeton.edu/chapters/i8890.pdf
Now on a more positive note, kudos for the inspiration behind your obvious passion for civil justice and education!
Oh and Kevin I think your right on the money...

CBelin of AR 11:08PM August 16, 2011

Fist off, please do not write in all capital letters. It is construed as yelling and lessens the validity of your argument.
Second, the US Department of Education was created to, "promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access." (US Department of Education, http://www2.ed.gov/about/what-we-do.html). They do this by establishing funding policies, conducting research on American schools, and ensures continuity between the states (US Department of Education, http://www2.ed.gov/about/what-we-do.html). Furthermore, you stated, "Abolish the Department of Education and force its 5500 federal employees to find real jobs instead of poking their long noses into the states' educational programs." During this economy, can you so easily wish to lay off 5500 workers?
The problem of American public schools is not bureaucracy, it is a lack of funding. In fiscal year 2007, education received almost 100 billion dollars. Compared to almost 112 billion in 2006. National defense received 530 billion federal dollars, down 2 billion from 2006 (Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/interactives/budget07/category.html). The lack of funding is the problem, not having a department of education. And though private education excels in many ways, why should we assume that all American children want to go to a private school and why should we expect them to pay tuition to a private school? Government is designed to offer services, such as a good education, to the people that government serves. Government has not been doing a good job. As citizens and taxpayers, it is our Constitutional duty to get government back on track.
And, by the way, I am a Junior at Rex Putnam High School (a public school) near Milwaukie, Oregon.

Education Matters of OR 10:30AM January 05, 2011

Abolish the Department of Education and force its 5500 federal employees to find real jobs instead of poking their long noses into the states' educational programs.
Somehow, America managed to have a pretty fair educational system before our worst president (Obama is a contender for the title), Jimmy Carter, decided we needed to create a Department of Education in 1980.
Nothing good ever comes from adding more bureaucrats, regulations and bureaucracy. Do we really need redundant levels of bureaucratic meddling at national, state, county and city levels? Private education seems to do better without so may pencil pushers and busy bodies.

R.L. Schaefer of CA 12:28PM January 04, 2011

Some say the public education system is turning racehorses into jackasses, but others say most of the students are jackasses to begin with, and it is a waste of taxpayers money trying to turn them into racehorses. It would be a big savings if we just imported the racehorses and put the jackasses on welfare.

morris wise of NY 8:19PM January 03, 2011

Was due in October. In December Democrats tried a PORK and obamacare funding in 2011 OMNIBUS bill but failed.
Education reforn is in top 10 along with getting rid of unproductive teachers. Not near top though...

Bill Hedges of MO 4:43PM January 03, 2011