NCLB, AYP, NASCAR: It's All Greek To Me

School is underway for most of the area surrounding where I live.  It has been hot, humid and down right draining for teachers, students and race fans in general.

Wait a minute.  Did I say race fans?  Isn't this a education based blog?  Yes, but after the information that was published on WDBJ-TV7 from Roanoke this week, AYP, NCLB and NASCAR all sound alike.  The problem?  It's all "Greek" to me.

For starters, how can a school division do well according to Virginia standards and yet can't make Adequate Yearly Progress based upon No Child Left Behind?  It sounds a lot like NASCAR Chase to the Sprint Cup Championship.  Win a few races and you're in the mix for the Chase championship, but there's a catch.  You have to be consistent.  NASCAR still hasn't figured out that the more you win races, the more consistent you are, you deserve a championship.  Virginia has established benchmarks that exceed other states and took the lead on several education issues but recently was left at the altar; jilted by the President's new education plan.  In essence, Virginia, the shining gemstone in the education crown was cast off by the United States Government in favor of states with lesser requirements for their students and teachers (Tennessee being one of the states) and left at the altar in the "Race to Success" competition for education in America.

I think the current administration in Washington has modeled their education plan after NASCAR's Chase for the Sprint Cup Challenge.  No solid rules, no meaningful challenges and simply thrown down the gauntlet like NASCAR did early in the season with the now famous phrase, "Have at it boys." 

And so begins the Chase to the Education Excellence Cup.  There are no multi-million dollar sponsorships, no multi-year television deals and coverage.  Virginia, like every other state in the United States has been played like a cheap fiddle.  Smile, wave for the fans and have at it. 

Which brings me back to AYP and NCLB.  If the system didn't accomplish what it was supposed to, then why are we still using it?  No one in Washington seems to have the answer.  No one in Daytona Beach seems to even care.  Consistency means nothing.  Win the big race or pass the examination.  Do that and you are destined for big fame, big fortune. 

For short, education is not a competition.  It's not a NASCAR race and it's not about how many hoops you jump through to make sure you get the money from Washington, through to the states and down to the local level.  It's about preparing the students of now for the future.

Where did we lose sight of this?