No Child Left Behind

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<h1>No Child Left Behind</h1><strong> Author: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/profile_Mark Stjean.aspx'>Mark Stjean</a></strong><br /><p>President Obama’s attempt to revamp the No Child Left Behind Policy gives hope to the future of education. Standardized tests portray an unfair image of yearly progress for students. All students are capable of learning but not at the same pace or on the same levels. Obama has decided to shift education in the direction of tracking. It is true that some students will come to your classroom 2 or 3 grades behind state standard. There are inadequate assessments that assess yearly progress for these struggling students. Standardized tests make low income programs seem insufficient because they are not proficient at state standards. These programs are losing funds and lack qualified staff and resources to be successful. Teachers that desire a decent salary gravitate towards more prominent neighborhoods with working and upper class citizens to guarantee financial security for their families. No teacher wants to work twice as hard for half the pay. Salary should be standard across the county, giving underserved districts the opportunity to receive up-to-date resources and qualified staff. Instead we find teachers with no empathy for the environmental stressors students face or respect for the community. They teach to standard without regard to ability level or academic weak areas. The goal of No Child Left Behind is to increase performance based on ability level. Hiring qualified staff members with the ability to teach appropriate content and manage classrooms through differentiated lessons and reinforcement is the formula to success. At Virtuous Academy, in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, we focus on teaching, producing musical performances and theatrical plays, and providing community service opportunities for students. This religious school is making a difference for children in Duquesne and surrounding areas. Virtuous Academy challenges students beyond their ability level, exposing them to the arts and giving them biblical values that promote academic achievement and positive citizenship. Making the decision to be a religious school is tough because it cause these programs to be ineligible for certain state and federal funding. However, I must pay homage to God for getting me through 2 years with just enough funding to get noticed. To abandon him in the good times is to lose faith in what he’s done for us. I pray that our president will recognize the private and parochial schools that are in sync with his growth model. Including these schools in the budget for a better education is a step towards closing the achievement gap. This will distribute funds fair and effective taking notice of growth and potential. I recently had the opportunity to speak with Iyana Tennon about Virtuous Academy about the school’s beginnings and the organizations plans for the future. With limited funding, Ms. Tennon has managed to keep the Virtuous Academy doors open; she provides breakfast, lunch and school supplies to her students with no additional costs to the families. “I had to have them believe in me before they believed in something so small being beneficial to such a neighborhood.” Rumors of turmoil and failure had plagued the community however, she remained confident that she has made a positive difference for her students and community. “Faith has brought me this far, so I remain confident in God for a brighter future I have hope that God will make a way for us to be amongst the best schools in Allegheny County.” Tennon, of Dusquesne PA, had planned to open a school when she graduated, but the window of opportunity had opened much sooner. September 2008, she opened the doors to Virtuous Academy, a religious school with small beginnings but a very big potential Virtuous Academy aspires to educate youth in Duquesne and surrounding areas to be competitive nationally. This religious school not only provides academics, they also model integrity and positive citizenship. I believe our journey from the basement of City of Hope Church of Duquesne to a state of the art facility will give God the glory He deserves. Blown away by this small young lady, who was obviously making a big difference, I asked her how she came to open her own school? She said, “God used my love for my native community and I was able to see what he wanted for the city of Duquesne. It hasn’t been easy, but it has been worth it. When I look at the children and know that they are the future, I know that we will succeed.” “With our faith we believe that God will provide us with provisions needed to assure No Child is Left Behind” said Tennon as I left her on that bright beautiful day in Pittsburgh.</p><strong>About the Author:</strong><br />For more information or to help the <a rel="nofollow" href="http://virtuousacademy.org ">Virtuous Academy</a> contact them at virtuous_academy@live.com.<p> Article Source: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/Article_No-Child-Left-Behind_18002.aspx'> http://www.articleseen.com/Article_No Child Left Behind_18002.aspx</a></p>

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