CNN on No Child Left Behind

You probably won't see this story get much coverage, despite its importance.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- As report cards go, it is a spotty mix of promising and abysmal grades. But an independent review praises the states for progress given the scope of their assignment -- putting in place the most sweeping education law in decades.

Most states have met or are at least on the way to meeting 75 percent of the major requirements of the No Child Left Behind law, according to the nonpartisan Education Commission of the States. That level of compliance has more than doubled over the last year.

No mention of President Bush, as in "President Bush's No Child Left Behind Law", which isn't surprising. In fact, the article refers to it as "The 2001 law" and the "new school law", but never even mentions Bush's name.

But not a single state is on pace to fulfill the law's requirement of having a measurable way to ensure a highly qualified teacher will be in every core academic class in 2005-06.

Can you say "NEA roadblocks" or even "speedbumps"? I thought you could.

Overall, the states are doing well in areas of testing students and measuring yearly progress, but they're struggling with requirements designed to improve the teaching corps.

Bumpety bump bump.

"The hardest work is yet to come," said Kathy Christie, vice president of the ECS Clearinghouse, the commission's research and information arm. "The toughest thing in all of this is going to be getting better at actually raising student achievement."

Testing is much easier to change than teaching methods, if you can cut through all the inertia, since a test doesn't have to go for hours each day, every day, but for more on testing you'd have to check in with Number 2 pencil. In any event, the article goes on with this

In perspective, Christie said, the effort by the states is encouraging. Not since the 1970s, when the government passed landmark acts to help disabled children and prevent sexual discrimination, have states gotten so active in response to a federal law, the report says.

Wow! Sounds like a great law. No wonder they didn't want to put Bush's name anywhere in the entire article. Can you say bias? I knew you could. So let's have a little look at some of CNN's other top articles that mention "No Child Left Behind". You see, CNN doesn't hesitate to call it "Bush's" law if the article is negative, they merely refuse to do so in most positive coverage of the law. I'll be taking these links in order until this gets boring.

Democrats charged Saturday that President Bush's No Child Left Behind law is wreaking havoc in US schools by imposing new educational burdens without paying...

They didn't forget to name him in that one.

President Bush is defending his No Child Left Behind initiative against Democrats who, in fighting for a political advantage on the education issue, argue that...

Remembered his name on that one.

CNN.com - Clark lashes out at Kerry, Edwards - Feb. 5, 2004...
... Take education. I don't understand how John Kerry and John Edwards can criticize the No Child Left Behind Act. They voted for it...

Not a single mention of his association with it in that entire article, but then it's Clark lashing out at Kerry and Edwards for voting for it, so I guess CNN doesn't want anyone to know that CNN normally refers to the law as "Bush's".

CNN.com - New federal education law strains state coffers - Apr. ...
As a former high school teacher, Mark Boughton is all for the intent of President Bush's sweeping education law known as the No Child Left Behind Act...

Named him there.

CNN.com - Bush deflects criticism on 'No Child Left Behind' - Jan. ...
Gearing up for a possible election year fight on his education initiative, President Bush defended his No Child Left Behind law against critics who say it has ...

And there.

CNN.com - No Parent Left Behind? - Mar. 3, 2004
... by race, teacher qualifications, test explanations, offers to transfer students from struggling or dangerous schools -- the No Child Left Behind education law

That one's a nice article on some of the benefits of the law, with of course absolutely no mention of Bush's name anywhere.

CNN.com - Union left behind on education lawsuit - Jun 28, 2004
The nation's largest union boldly pledged a year ago to rally states to sue the Bush administration over education spending under the No Child Left Behind law. ...

Didn't miss mentioning him in that one.

CNN.com - States rebelling against federal education rules - Feb. ...
With Utah in the vanguard, about a dozen states are rebelling against President Bush's centerpiece education law, the No Child Left Behind Act, complaining it ...

Nor in that one. See a pattern here? If this were a standardized test you'd have to say the questions were rigged. If the law's benefits are touted it's an orphan piece of legislation that somehow just happened, but if something negative is being said then it's all Bush's baby.