As I have noted, stronger standards
alone aren't the only reason why student achievement has improved within this period; at the same time, the higher expectations for student success fostered by the standards (
along with the accountability measures put in place by the No Child Left Behind Act, the expansion of school choice, reform efforts by districts such as New York City, and efforts by organizations such as the College
Board and the National Science and Math Initiative to get more poor and minority students to take Advanced Placement and other college prep courses), has helped more students achieve success.
The strong ties
alone between Dukes (who remains NAACP's most - influential
board member) and AFT
alone,
along with the presence of Baby Boomer teachers in the outfits membership, all but ensures that the concerns of black families are secondary to traditionalist interests.