Myth: No Child Left Behind represents
a federal takeover of education.

This is a widespread myth, recently expressed in a Deseret News editorial:

            “[No Child Left Behind] represents an unprecedented move toward centralized,
federal control over education, which ought to be an entirely local concern.”

            What the No Child Left Behind Act says is that if states take federal education money they must set standards for what they teach and they must assess whether children are learning to those standards. This is so that the states can demonstrate that federal money is actually used for the intended purpose, which is to make sure that poor children, children of color, children learning English, and children with disabilities have as good an education as all other children. It also says that students need teachers who are “highly qualified.”
            But it is the states that set the standards, adopt the assessments, and determine what constitutes a “highly qualified teacher.” In addition, curriculum – that is, what kids actually learn – is also a state and local matter. School funding remains a state and local matter, as well, except for the federal funds that have been sent to state and local districts. In addition, states and localities control how federal money earmarked for teacher training and professional development, English-language instruction, and safe-and-drug-free schools, among other things, is spent.
            This hardly represents a federal takeover of education