How might education change with this new presidential election?

My friend's kid reading her summer reading book...every day we talked about what the book was about...and she was able to draw links to her own life and people she knew...there was no test...but she was learning. and liking learning.

As the election process continues, it makes me wonder, what might happen to NCLB if we get a new administration in. NCLB means No Child Left Behind is really Bush's educational plan. As a person who does not love this plan, I am sort of hoping things might change.

This is what I found out about current education "platforms"

FUnny thing, I googled Obama education platform and found this website:

and on the site they said:http://www.barackobama.com/issues/education/#k-12

"Reform No Child Left Behind: Obama will reform NCLB, which starts by funding the law. Obama believes teachers should not be forced to spend the academic year preparing students to fill in bubbles on standardized tests. He will improve the assessments used to track student progress to measure readiness for college and the workplace and improve student learning in a timely, individualized manner. Obama will also improve NCLB's accountability system so that we are supporting schools that need improvement, rather than punishing them. "

Interesting, because one of the problems I have with NCLB is the whole teaching to the test issue. It is wonderful that they claim they will do it in a more INDIVIDUALIZED MANNER. However, this makes me wonder...HOW? I mean accountability is the age long question...How do we know students are learning? and what are they learning?

I guess this seems like it is ON THE RIGHT TRACK as it has the buzz words I am pro...but the question is HOW and of course, with most politicians, I am left feeling like, OK I got the gist but i want more than fluff...

McCain from this website: http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/read.aspx?guid=2ca6f926-4564-4301-87cd-a5f35e68c0d4

CLEARLY IS not my cup of tea educationally speaking as he basically says in this page that he will do more of the same, keep NCLB testing and that while he says we won't accept below average, there is no plan..not even a gist of a plan.

So what this all leaves me with is that I want schools to be better places for children to inquire and learn, INDIVIDUALLY...and that I wish while accountability is important...I wish that the focus went more onto developmentally culturally appropriate curriculum planning and implementation.

We shall see...but I guess this just leaves me feeling a bit like federally stuff might not change all that much.