--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For decades, the public school system…" description: "\"For decades, the public school system failed too many children, so we passed the No Child Left Behind Act and demanded schools show results in return f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04a/george-w-bush-64_behinds_for-decades-the-public-school-system-fai_2630567.jpg" --- # For decades, the public school system failed too many… ![“For decades, the public school system failed too many children, so we passed the No Child Left Behind Act and demanded schools show results in return for money.” quote by George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04a/george-w-bush-64_behinds_for-decades-the-public-school-system-fai_2630567.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04a/george-w-bush-64_behinds_for-decades-the-public-school-system-fai_2630567.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04a/george-w-bush-64_behinds_for-decades-the-public-school-system-fai_2630567.jpg) > “For decades, the public school system failed too many children, so we passed the No Child Left Behind Act and demanded schools show results in return for money.” [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Policy aimed to hold schools accountable for funding, yet outcomes varied widely. **In simple terms:** No Child Left Behind linked money to results. Key Takeaway Ensure accountability while supporting schools. Themes education policy accountability Mood critical hopeful Type policy philosophical When to use this quote - school budgeting - teacher evaluations - parent‑teacher meetings - community outreach Key Concepts standardized testing federal funding Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance accountability with holistic education? - What metrics truly reflect school success? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on testing can neglect deeper learning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Left behind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-behind/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [No child left behind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-child-left-behind/) [Public school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-school/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [School system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school-system/) ## Related quotes > [A patchwork solution of provincial targets is an admission of defeat and a statement that we have failed our children and grandchildren.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/a-patchwork-solution-of-provincial-targets-is-an-admission-of-defeat/) [Elizabeth May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-may/) > [I was hopeless at high school - I failed everything but Latin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keanu-reeves/i-was-hopeless-at-high-school-i-failed-everything-but-latin/) [Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/) > [None of you has ever failed. School may have failed you. Goodbye to failure, children. Welcome to success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marva-collins/none-of-you-has-ever-failed-school-may-have-failed-you-goodbye-to/) [Marva Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marva-collins/) > [I knew comedy was the thing for me when I was the only Asian kid in high school... who failed math.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dat-phan/i-knew-comedy-was-the-thing-for-me-when-i-was-the-only-asian-kid-in/) [Dat Phan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dat-phan/) > [School failed me, and I failed the school. It bored me. The teachers behaved like Feldwebel (sergeants). I wanted to learn what I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/school-failed-me-and-i-failed-the-school-it-bored-me-the-teachers/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [In elementary school, I did well in science, but I was a poor writer. When I got to high school, I failed all my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avi/in-elementary-school-i-did-well-in-science-but-i-was-a-poor-writer/) [Avi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avi/) > [I feel that if I had not had an art program in my school, I would have failed in a big way. My teachers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-small/i-feel-that-if-i-had-not-had-an-art-program-in-my-school-i-would-have/) [David Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-small/) > [ “No Child Left Behind has diminished \[teachers'\] sense of control of their own classroom, narrowed the focus of their jobs, and stifled pedagogical innovation.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-lang/no-child-left-behind-has-diminished-teachers-sense-of-control-of/) James M. Lang > [This system is really broken. No Child Left Behind has really failed and the only way to solve education is to leave one governor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kinky-friedman/this-system-is-really-broken-no-child-left-behind-has-really-failed/) [Kinky Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kinky-friedman/) > [With the enactment of the bipartisan No Child Left Behind Act, we have taken an important step toward achieving federal education policies that will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-kelly/with-the-enactment-of-the-bipartisan-no-child-left-behind-act-we-have/) [Sue Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-kelly/) > [If we do not get No Child Left Behind right for Limited English Proficient students, the law will be a failure for most schools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-hinojosa/if-we-do-not-get-no-child-left-behind-right-for-limited-english/) [Ruben Hinojosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-hinojosa/) > [I want to fully fund education, No Child Left Behind, special-needs education. And that's how we're going to be more competitive, by making sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-want-to-fully-fund-education-no-child-left-behind-special-needs/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [The No Child Left Behind Program was an incentive to the schools to get their kids up to snuff on math and science and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/the-no-child-left-behind-program-was-an-incentive-to-the-schools-to/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) > [No Child Left Behind ... is a giraffe with an elephant's body. ... You can't take the vision of Ted Kennedy and merge it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-rauschenberger/no-child-left-behind-is-a-giraffe-with-an-elephant-s-body-you-can-t/) Steve Rauschenberger > [There's a perception that's been put out into the marketplace by No Child Left Behind that schools aren't doing enough for kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-jackson/there-s-a-perception-that-s-been-put-out-into-the-marketplace-by-no/) [Mark Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-jackson/) ## More by George W. Bush > [Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/throughout-our-history-the-words-of-the-declaration-have-inspired/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I recognize I am essentially a failed human being in the sense that I can't possibly live up to the expectations of an Almighty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-recognize-i-am-essentially-a-failed-human-being-in-the-sense-that-i/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [We will make sure our troops have all that is necessary to complete their missions. That's why I went to the Congress last September…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-will-make-sure-our-troops-have-all-that-is-necessary-to-complete/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible - and no one can now doubt the word of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/for-diplomacy-to-be-effective-words-must-be-credible-and-no-one-can/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [You can fool some of the people all the time, and those are the ones you want to concentrate on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/you-can-fool-some-of-the-people-all-the-time-and-those-are-the-ones/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [If you take all the food aid, America is by far the most generous country. If you take the direct aid, we're very generous.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-you-take-all-the-food-aid-america-is-by-far-the-most-generous/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The tyrant has fallen, and Iraq is free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-tyrant-has-fallen-and-iraq-is-free/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“One of our energy strategies is to increase the CAFE standards to 35 miles per hour..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/one-of-our-energy-strategies-is-to-increase-the-cafe-standards-to-35/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [There's a lot that I want to accomplish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/there-s-a-lot-that-i-want-to-accomplish/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [If he's - the inference is that somehow he thinks slavery is a - is a noble institution I would - I would strongly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-he-s-the-inference-is-that-somehow-he-thinks-slavery-is-a-is-a/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [My answer is bring 'em on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/my-answer-is-bring-em-on/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [On 9-11, we discovered that we cannot escape from the world. To me personally, this was a life-changing experience, and I realized, as did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/on-9-11-we-discovered-that-we-cannot-escape-from-the-world-to-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [As Americans, we want peace - we work and sacrifice for peace. But there can be no peace if our security depends on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/as-americans-we-want-peace-we-work-and-sacrifice-for-peace-but-there/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I couldn't imagine somebody like Osama bin Laden understanding the joy of Chanukah.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-couldn-t-imagine-somebody-like-osama-bin-laden-understanding-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) [Explore all 1,717 George W. Bush quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) ## More Behinds quotes > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Time is painted with a lock before, and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for, when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/time-is-painted-with-a-lock-before-and-bald-behind-signifying-thereby/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [God hides Himself behind causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-rollin/god-hides-himself-behind-causes/) [Charles Rollin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-rollin/) > [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Behind every word flows energy. If you use your words to gossip or babble about what you are going to do before you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-choquette/behind-every-word-flows-energy-if-you-use-your-words-to-gossip-or/) [Sonia Choquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-choquette/) > [With the realization of God comes all power. If the little wave knew that behind it is the great ocean, it could say, "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/with-the-realization-of-god-comes-all-power-if-the-little-wave-knew/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [And the seasons they go 'round and 'round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/and-the-seasons-they-go-round-and-round-and-the-painted-ponies-go-up/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [It is worthwhile for anyone to have behind him a few generations of honest, hard-working ancestry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-worthwhile-for-anyone-to-have-behind-him-a-few-generations-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm really thankful to God, man. Like now, I'm really making a real comeback with my group. With or without a record, with or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ike-turner/i-m-really-thankful-to-god-man-like-now-i-m-really-making-a-real/) [Ike Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ike-turner/) > [Empires fall, ids explode, great symphonies are written, and behind all of it is a single instinct that demands satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/empires-fall-ids-explode-great-symphonies-are-written-and-behind-all/) [Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/) > [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) Browse all 6,789 Behinds quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For decades, the public school system failed too many children, so we passed the No Child Left Behind Act and demanded schools show results in return for money.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George W. Bush" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/for-decades-the-public-school-system-failed-too-many-children-so-we/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Behinds" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/for-decades-the-public-school-system-failed-too-many-children-so-we/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04a/george-w-bush-64_behinds_for-decades-the-public-school-system-fai_2630567.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04a/george-w-bush-64_behinds_for-decades-the-public-school-system-fai_2630567.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04a/george-w-bush-64_behinds_for-decades-the-public-school-system-fai_2630567.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For decades, the public school system failed too many children, so we passed the No Child Left Behind Act…” — George W. Bush", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "George W. Bush", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "For decades, the public school system...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/for-decades-the-public-school-system-failed-too-many-children-so-we/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/for-decades-the-public-school-system-failed-too-many-children-so-we/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```