No Child Left Behind

On January 8, 2002, President George Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). This act reauthorized and amended federal education programs established under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965.

The major focus of No Child Left Behind 2001 (also known as ESEA) is to provide all children with a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education. The U.S. Department of Education is emphasizing four pillars within the bill:

• Accountability: to ensure those students who are disadvantaged, achieve academic proficiency.
• Flexibility: Allows school districts flexibility in how they use federal education funds to improve student achievement.
• Research-based education: Emphasizes educational programs and practices that have been proven effective through scientific research.
• Parent options: Increases the choices available to the parents of students attending Title I schools.

NCLB emphasizes the implementation of educational programs and practices that have been demonstrated to be effective. In essence, it is a national extension of the standards-based education reform efforts undertaken in our state since 1993.