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Administrative Memorandum
 

July
2004

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It is the policy of the Department of Education and Cultural Affairs to provide services to all persons, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, disability, ancestry, or national origin, in accordance with federal and state laws.

 

  

Secretary’s Column
by Dr. Rick Melmer, Secretary
South Dakota Department of Education

Be careful what you wish for

Dr. Rick MelmerOver the past several years, the No Child Left Behind Act has been the subject of much controversy and conversation among educators and those that follow educational issues. NCLB has been the savior and the scapegoat, depending on your perspective. It is safe to say that the NCLB initiative has been a source of frustration for many educators in our state. Many people would like to see the federal act disappear – allowing us to return to our “normal” activities.

I am convinced that we will never return to “normal.” The days of low or no accountability are over. As we consider the modification or elimination of NCLB, we should think about what reform initiatives would take its place.

Consider the following questions regarding NCLB:

  • Will federal legislators embrace changes that reduce or eliminate accountability by local schools?

  • Will parents opt for the elimination of “choice” for their children?

  • Will parents settle for less communication in the future?

  • Will federal legislators and parents be content to accept teachers that are not trained to teach in their content area?

  • Will the American public quit looking at data to make informed decisions about school performance?

I think you would agree that the answers to the above questions are “no.” Accountability is here to stay, and the sooner we embrace it and learn to live with it, the better. NCLB doesn’t solve all of our problems, but we are beginning to learn the rules of the game. I expect the results of the 2004 Dakota STEP exams will show that South Dakota schools will improve due to the expectations of NCLB.