Derrell Bradford explains why No Child Left Behind has been successful in shining “a great spotlight on what we all knew: Poor kids were getting a raw deal,” particularly in New Jersey. NCLB’s accountability measures and its emphasis on assessment have been described as unfair to teachers,

But one thing is clear: Public education in America before NCLB’s implementation was absolutely unfair to students, who were failed in the shadows, and taxpayers, who funded school systems that were inherently broken. Most importantly, however, it was unfair to those outstanding teachers who didn’t and don’t fear measurement, and who understand the vital role they play in preparing our children for a globally competitive world on a fast track to leaving them all behind.