Opinion: We need to fix No Child Left Behind

By John Kline, Special to CNN

Editor's note: John Kline is a Republican congressman from Minnesota and chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

(CNN) - Ten years ago, "No Child Left Behind" became the law of the land.

Enacted under President George W. Bush's administration with the promise to focus on individual student achievement and overall school performance, No Child Left Behind was heralded as groundbreaking. And in some ways, it was.

The expanded use of data helped superintendents, principals and teachers pay more attention to the students with the greatest need. Parents now have more access to important information about the quality of teachers and schools, and some student achievement gaps have narrowed.

Hindsight is 20/20, and after a decade of No Child Left Behind, we can clearly identify the law's weaknesses.