Yesterday, I bet that Barack Obama wouldn't mention NCLB in his acceptance speech, nor would he say much about education at all. I was right on the first count and wrong on the second. Here's what he said about k-12 schools:
America, now is not the time for small plans. Now is the time to finally meet our moral obligation to provide every child a world-class education, because it will take nothing less to compete in the global economy.
You know, Michelle and I are only here tonight because we were given a chance at an education. And I will not settle for an America where some kids don't have that chance.
I'll invest in early childhood education. I'll recruit an army of new teachers, and pay them higher salaries, and give them more support. And in exchange, I'll ask for higher standards and more accountability.
No, it wasn't a major part of his speech--his segment on healthcare was about twice as long--but it was more attention for education than he gave, say, judges.
Don't expect John McCain to say "No Child Left Behind" next week either. With the bases of both parties dead-set against the law, it's just smarter politics to talk vaguely about education reform.
