Background

Public education in the United States is primarily the responsibility of the states. We all notice this through the successes and problems in different state education systems and how state budgets greatly effect public education. The federal government has normally only contributed to public education with monetary funds for programs such as Head Start (a preschool program) and the school lunch program (where underprivileged kids receive free lunch).

In order to expand academic standards nationwide, the Bush administration expanded the federal government’s role in public education through the creation of the legislation of No Child Left Behind. The purpose of No Child Left Behind was to make schools more accountable for their students’ success. This failed piece of legislation does make schools accountable, but only through test scores. The result of this is that teachers must spend time teaching to the test in order to avoid the school losing funding or being taken over by the government.

The Obama administration states in their agenda that they will “restore the promise of America’s public education” through action such as reforming No Child Left Behind. We’ll see what happens.