Federal Programs

The No Child Left Behind Act

Guidance
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is a education reform designed to improve student achievement. The act embodies four key principles–stronger accountability for results; greater flexibility for states, school districts and schools in the use of federal funds; more choices for parents of children from disadvantaged backgrounds; and an emphasis on teaching methods that have been demonstrated to work

Accountability
The NCLB Act is designed to help all students meet high academic standards by requiring that states create annual assessments that measure what children know and can do in reading and math in grades 3 through 8. These tests, based on challenging state standards, will allow parents, educators, administrators, policymakers, and the general public to track the performance of every school in the nation. Data will be disaggregated for students by poverty levels, race, ethnicities, disabilities, and limited English proficiencies to ensure that no child– regardless of his or her background—is left behind. The federal government will provide assistance to help states design and administer these tests. States also must report on school safety on a school-by-school basis.Annual school “report cards” will provide comparative information on the quality of schools. By doing so, they will empower parents to make more informed choices about their children’s educations. These report cards will show not only how well students are doing on meeting standards but also the progress that disaggregated groups are making in closing achievement gaps.

Districts and schools that do not make sufficient yearly progress toward state proficiency goals for their students first will be targeted for assistance and then be subject to corrective action and ultimately restructuring. Schools that meet or exceed objectives will be eligible for “academic achievement awards.”

Flexibility and Local Control
Another hallmark of the new law is that, in exchange for greater accountability for results, states and school districts will have unprecedented flexibility in how they can use federal education funds. The intent is to put greater decision-making powers at the local and state levels where educators are most in touch with students’ needs.

Enhanced Parental Choice
Parents of children who are in low-performing schools are given a new range of options under the NCLB Act. For one, parents with children in schools that fail to meet state standards for at least two consecutive years may transfer their children to a better-performing public school, including a public charter school, within their district. If they do so, the district must provide transportation, using Title I funds if necessary. Students from low-income families in schools that fail to meet state standards for at least three years are eligible to receive supplemental educational services—including tutoring, after-school services, and summer school. In addition, the NCLB Act provides increased support to parents, educators, and communities to create new charter schools. The act also provides students the choice to attend a safe school within their district if they attend persistently dangerous schools or are the victim of a violent crime while in their school.

Focuses on What Works
The NCLB Act puts a special emphasis on determining what educational programs and practices have been clearly demonstrated to be effective through rigorous scientific research. Federal funding will be targeted to support these programs and teaching methods that improve student learning and achievement. Funds will be available to help teachers strengthen old skills and gain new ones in effective reading instructional techniques. Funds will be directed to after-school and other programs that have been scientifically demonstrated to prevent drug use and violence among youths.

More information on NCLB can be found at the No Child Left Behind national website for education - No Child Left Behind.