School Closures, a fundamental flaw in NCLB

This article online at edweek.org sites a study that proves that there are many fundamental flaws with "Shooting the goat" just because it is under performing. Unlike a goat, schools are complex problems that have more solutions than can be put into words. This article points out just one of the many implications caused by shutting down a school that is underperforming. They site a study of the NY City School District  that shows that closing schools effects the the poorer students the most. They don't have the resources to cope with this kind of change in the middle of critical education periods.

This article on opposingviews.com has more concrete information regarding the failure of NCLB. It points out that the people who are hit hardest are the ones who already are the most disadvantaged.

If you think about this on a more local level, it could be devastating to Oregon if some of their poorer schools where to close. Mostly because these schools tend to be in rural areas. Can you imagine if Dallas High School where closed because of poor test scores? Where would these kids go? What about even more rural areas of Eastern Oregon? These children already are so separated geographically, then you have to make them move to a new school and have to readjust to a new social structure.

I also think that shutting down a school makes poor economic sense as well. You shut down a school, then you move all the children to another school that is probable already taxed to its limits and you have a perfectly good physical location that stands empty:-( It makes more sense to me that you change some of the parts and try and give any underperforming schools additional help so that they can change their own situation. I agree that major change needs to take place in this country, but it needs to be done in a way that puts the children first.

P.S. This looks like a great resource for everyone involved in education:
http://nationsreportcard.gov