Education Law:
Of all the government functions, one very important function is that of education. The Department of Education oversees this responsibility, which is administered through the public school system. The states are responsible for the proper running and maintenance of the public schools, which in turn are responsible for providing quality education to students.
In the United States, a great deal of importance is given to ensure that all children receive education irrespective of who they are or where they are situated. Thus certain education laws have been enacted to assure that all children receive at least a basic education without any biases.
Here is a preview of some education laws that have come into force over the years to safeguard the interests of children in America.
The Equal Education Opportunities Act of 1974:
This act provides for equal educational opportunities for all students, and under this act it is illegal for a public school in any states to deny education to any person based on his caste, religion, race, or country of origin. States are also given the authority to direct the education provided in private schools.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA):
This law was enacted to protect the interests of children with disabilities. Under the American law, any child with mental retardation, or any kind of visual, speech, or hearing impairment is considered a child with a disability.
Under this act, all public schools are required to identify any child with a disability and provide special education to such children without any cost to them or their parents. Specially designed education is made available to them including: instruction given in a classroom, home, institution or any other setting, as well as instruction in physical education. Such education is not limited just to the special classes, but also combines various activities that are needed for the complete educational development to meet the unique needs of children with disabilities.
No Child Left Behind Act:
This act was enforced in 2001, and as the name suggests was enacted so that no child in America would be without education. The main foundation of this act lies in its four pillars that are:
- Stressing the importance on doing what is beneficial according to scientific data and research.
- Answerability for results and outcome.
- Increased parental options and participation.
- Increased local regulation and flexibility.
The No Child Left Behind Act targets the early learning years of children so that they get a better start and hence can be successful in their later years. Parents are given progress reports on their children in the areas of reading and math from grade 2 to 8, which is mandatory under this law. Due to this, parents receive periodic information on the achievements of not just their children, but also all children so that they can be objective about the reasons for their child’s success or lack there of.
This act also ensures that schools cannot continue to provide low quality education and can use federal resources to improve their services. Parents are also given the option of removing their child from a continuously poor performing school and enroll them in one that will give them the kind of quality education that all children should receive.
Schools too are given additional resources in terms of federal funding so that they can hire the best teachers and provide their students with the best possible education. Schools and districts are highly accountable to the department of education and no leniency in education is tolerated.
The growth and prosperity of any country is directly related to the kind of education that it can provide to their students. Children are the future of a country and education plays an essential role in their development. All of these education laws have come into effect so that no child is denied an education thereby protecting the future prospects of the American economy.
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