Crusade in the Classroom: How George W. Bush's Education Policies Will Affect Your Children and Our Schools

The campaign promises are about to become your reality: "Raise the bar of standards. Give schools the flexibility to meet them. Measure progress. Insist on results. Blow the whistle on failure. Provide parents with options to increase their influence. And don't leave any child behind." George W. Bush, Little Rock, AR March 24, 2000 "We will ask that every state have a real accountability system, meaning that they test every child, every year, in grades three through eight, on the basics of reading and math...and have clear consequences for success and failure." "As president, I want to fan the spark of charter schools into a flame." George W. Bush, October 5, 1999 "We will spend more on education and reading -- and will expect more in return." George W. Bush, October 23, 2000 Accountability. Standards. Choice. Readiness. You've heard the buzzwords of school reform. You've heard the campaign promises. Now, as these policies are being put into action with the new administration, it's time to ask: How will these changes affect you? * What impact will annual testing have on your child? * How will federal funding reforms affect your child's school? * How should you interpret the "school report cards" that rate schools based on test scores? * How will you know which options are right for your child? * How will gifted children and students with learning disabilities be affected? In clear, jargon-free language, Dr. Douglas Reeves explains the Bush policies for school reform, predicts how these new programs will change our schools, and helps parents understand their options. Throughout this practical guide, profiles of "Innovators to Watch" illustrate how early tests of these policies have played out in schools across the country. For ongoing educational refrom updates, visit www.kaptest.com/crusadeintheclassroom