http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=brazils-option-for-science-education
The answer is straightforward: systemic high-quality education, disseminated to reach the entire territory, including the most remote and impoverished communities of this vast country, so that all Brazilians can acquire the means to become creative and critical thinkers, capable of developing their own opinions and becoming true contributors to solve the challenges involved in constructing a fair and democratic society.
Three tenets serve as the main foundations of the Brazilian Plan for the Development of Education (PDE): systemic, territorial and empowering education. Enacted by the current administration, this plan outlines a broad range of executive measures aimed at rescuing the quality, reach and long-term impact of the Brazilian education system.
I like that they have decided what it is they want from their education , the goals are clear.
"By bringing their vision, efforts and experience together, the Brazilian government, through the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, and the ELS-IINN have partnered to establish the Natal Campus of the Brain and to use this multidisciplinary, scientific-social initiative to launch the Alberto Santos-Dumont Science Education Program for Children. The goal of this initiative is to enroll one million children from the public school system nationwide in the most comprehensive science and technology education program in Brazilian history."
Sure, Plane...look at the support Brazilians are willing to provide in terms the synergy of partnering---sans the threats, punitive actions. I have yet read anything of the latter. Perhaps there's more to the story, but so far I read that this country has taken the bull by the horns with a clear and focused goal for children in the arena of quality science education.
That slippery slope of demanding scores rise with no caution to what districts will to do to get there is coming to fruition in many districts across the country. Like I said, NCLB had/and possibly has potential but on the ground floor, on the front lines, I see first hand that it is not necessarily all about substandard teaching...... but an unbalanced approach and a flawed system ---NCLB.