The Indianapolis Star has initiated a 5 part series on the NCLB Act. This first column is about how Ft. Wayne Public Schools has decided to close a failing middle school voluntarily.Click on news story to view the article.Did they do the right thing? Who knows.Will the affected students be better served at other schools? Hopefully.

The second article in this series Failing schools require sweeping changes addresses the application of scientifically based researched curriculum at the school level.The third article Identifying school models that work explores models that districts could apply to failing schools.The fourth article Quality matters in classroom addresses issues associated with teacher quality and its impact on improving schools.Each article is oriented around the initial one reporting on the closing of Geyer Middle School of Ft. Wayne, Indiana Public Schools.

This is a very interesting dilemma that schools and districts will have to face in increasing numbers in the years ahead. The challenge is to provide effective support to our SDEs to impact those types of situations and to forestall such drastic and life changing events such as this from happening. We do have our work cut out for us in our role of capacity builders. Thanks, Art, for this real life look at the impact of NCLB on the local level.

Here is the fifth article in the 5 part series 'No Child' succeeds when states take it seriously.

The Missouri Professors of Educational Administration (MPEA) have engaged in a "backward mapping project" of the most successful school leaders in the state. One component of the project was a panel discussion around the current educational topics. One question was, "How has NCLB impacted your work?". The conversation was rich; however, shaded to extra responsibility, extra work until one young middle school principal said, "NCLB has focused my work, allowing me to do what I am supposed to do, improve each child's performance".Art, it is part 5...NCLB will succeed where it is welcomed and struggle where it is perceived as a barrier or hoop.