Center on Education Policy
Nearly two-thirds of U.S. school districts report that since the implementation of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) during the 2001/2002 academic year, the amount of time spent on English and math – NCLB-tested subjects – increased in their elementary schools by an average of 42 percent. The same average increase was reported for 20 percent of middle schools.
At the same time, more than four in 10 districts reported cutting the amount of time spent on science, social studies, art and music, physical education, lunch or recess by an average of 31 percent – proving the axiom “what gets tested, gets taught.”
The study findings confirm the need for after-school programs that are providing cultural, recreational and artistic programming to youth who would otherwise not be exposed to those pursuits. The Center on Education Policy is a Washington-based, national advocate for public education. Free. 20 pages. (202) 822-8065, http://www.cep-dc.org/document/docWindow.cfm?fuseaction=document.viewDocument&documentid=212&documentFormatId=3557.
