Misguided Education Reform

Nancy Bailey is a former special education teacher and principal and has a Ph.D. in educational administration from Florida State University. She has been a Title I Grant Manager in a program for troubled teens, the recipient of a Learning Disabilities Innovation in Teaching Grant, and an advocate for safe school facilities.

“The Trouble with Testing and Common Core State Standards”chapter alone, is worth the price of the book. The author clearly substantiates the nonsense, abuses and frauds associated with the high-stakes testing movement. The discussion about the Common Core State Standards clearly illustrates how non K-12 individuals devised the core to belittle teachers and the public schools. The author notes that no formative evaluation has ever been part of any of the testing movements. And, then notes the total lack of pilot testing on the current vogue of achievement tests. This is must read chapter by all educational policy makers.

• Chapter 1 What Happened to Early Childhood?The Assault on Early ChildhoodThe Importance of Past ResearchKindergarten—The Children’s GardenThe Common Core State Standards for KindergartenHead Start’s StrugglePrivatizing Head Start Universal PreschoolWhat is a Good Preschool?The Elimination of RecessSupporting Good Early Childhood Education Chapter 2 The Trouble With Testing and Common Core StandardsThe Effects of High-Stakes Testing on StudentsIgnoring Instead of Celebrating Differences Blaming Public Schools RetentionLowering Class Size is a Better SolutionHigh School and General Testing ControversyStudents with Disabilities, Testing and High School Diplomas High-Stakes Cheating—Students High-Stakes Cheating—Adults Excuses Common Core State Standards Talking Pineapples and Testing Pushback Testing to Benefit Students—Formative AssessmentParent and Teacher Activism Concerning Tests Chapter 3 The Politics of ReadingThe Problems with Reading Instruction The History of Reading, Phonics and Whole Language Flawed Reading Recommendations Reading First: Conflict of Interests and Unproven Science Getting a Reading First GrantDr. Cupp’s Readers and Other Reading ProgramsWhat Happened to Reading First ?Antiquated School Libraries or No Libraries at AllTeaching Children to Love Reading Chapter 4 Special Education—Abandoned CommitmentThe Cost of Education for AllBurton Blatt’s Book and Special Education HistoryThe Regular Education Initiative or Getting Rid of Special EducationThe Reauthorizations of Public Law 94-142 The Problem With Inclusion—UDL, Technology, RTI and DIBELS Students, Testing and Cognitive Disabilities Privatizing Special Education Giftedness IgnoredThe Significance of Special OlympicsChapter 5 The Dangers of Criminalizing StudentsStudent Behavior in Public SchoolsPoverty and Discipline in Urban SchoolsZero ToleranceCorporal PunishmentTeaching and Students with Problem BehaviorSchool Resource Officers Student SurveillanceUniforms—Dressing Alike—In a DemocracyThe School Counselor’s Role Schools that Care About Students Chapter 6 The Elimination of the ArtsStealing The Arts From Children—Especially the PoorTesting and the ArtsWhere the Arts Have Been StolenHow the Arts Improve Scores in Other Subjects Student Artists of All BackgroundsThe Importance of Certified Art TeachersThe Arts Job Market and Saving the Arts in Our Public SchoolsChapter 7 The Public School Building ProblemPoor School FacilitiesPoor Rural and Native American SchoolsHigh Achievers and Ramshackle Schools Dangerous and Toxic SchoolsThe Costs of Poorly Maintained Schools Schools—Earthquakes and TornadoesOvercrowded Schools The Importance of School Facilities to AchievementPublic Schools or Charter Schools Facility Funding?Supporting Good School Facilities for All Children