Blueprint for Reform Blog

In March of 2010, the U.S. Department of Education and President Obama released a plan for education in order to improve America’s public education systems and fix the previously flawed Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which was later renamed No Child Left Behind (NCLB). This new plan is called A Blueprint for Reform and focuses on five main areas: College- and Career- Ready Students, Great Teachers and Leaders in Every School, Equity and Opportunity for All Students, Raise the Bar and Reward Excellence, and Promote Innovation and Continuous Improvement.
Each area is important to improve upon because America is no longer at the top for the best education. The Blueprint for Reform proposes to have America at the top for college completion by 2020. Providing equal opportunities for all people begins with providing equal educational experiences for all children in America. Rewarding student, teacher, principal, and school greatness is also a goal. By giving positive feedback to schools, it will encourage that school to continue their efforts and get other schools to strive for excellence.
According to Linda Kulman, from Politics Daily, the Blueprint for Reform is a positive move in the right direction for education. Schools will no longer be singled out for under-performing, and rewarding successful schools. Expanding public charter schools are included, as well as more flexibility on how districts spend federal dollars. The ability to use federal grant funds will be possible in order to provide career advancement opportunities to educators who are advancing academic achievement for their students.
Joyce V. Brown, from the journal Techniques, recognizes the importance of getting all high school students ready for college. Getting families to engage in their child’s success and achievement is also a goal of the Blueprint for Reform. When a family is involved, their relationship with their child is stronger and the child’s achievement increases. Increasing student’s achievement will increase the likelihood of them being prepared for college.
There are groups who are not positive about the Blueprint for Reform, however. Ed Finkel, from the journal District Administration, says parent advocacy groups are worried that other programs, which they have to compete against for funding, will get the funding. Parent voices are important not only for the student’s but also for communicating with school personnel. Parent advocacy groups do not want to have to compete to get their concerns heard and don’t want to have to struggle to support schools closely if they do not get funding.
The Blueprint for Reform is a much needed plan to help the public education system stop struggling. I agree that in order to have a successful country, America needs successful people from successful schools. Not only will schools be improved presently, but the future of education will also be considered. No Child Left Behind was a great main idea to improve schools nationally, but where do we go now? America needs a fresh idea that will plan for the future so we don’t have to be in this type of situation again. The full Blueprint for Reform can be viewed at www.ed.gov.