In today's Lowell Sun, Ann Connery Frantz has written an insightful piece about the Federal 'No Child Left Behind' act (NCLB) and how it conflicts with and undermines existing State initiatives (see "Education: Is the bar being set too high").

Part of the problem is our own Department of Education. Each state gets to set their own standard for how school districts shall be deemed to have made 'adequate yearly progress' under the federal law and our DOE chose an MCAS score of 240 and above (called proficient). A score of 220 and above is considered passing, a score of 240 is "equivalent to scoring in the 80th percentile across the nation." Massachusetts has set the bar very high by using an MCAS grade of proficient. No one is against higher standards, but NCLB demands that students improve on a rigid schedule from year to year or the school will be designated as under-performing, with severe financial penalties to follow. NCLB standards are so inflexible and unrealistic that it seems possible that every school in the nation will end up as under-performing.

Massachusetts has been a leader in the nation in education reform. Other states are simply setting a lower standard in order to avoid the pitfalls created by NCLB. Our DOE fell into the trap by believing the rhetoric instead of looking at the reality of this law. Trying to mesh existing standards with the new federal guidelines is going to set schools and students up to fail.