No Child Left Behind

Education Week

http://www.edweek.org

The Legislation

2001 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)

Federal program for disadvantaged students, particularly those from low income families

Intended to hold states and schools more accountable for student achievement

Major Components

Annual Testing Academic Progress Report Cards Teacher Qualifications Reading First

Annual Testing

By 2005-2006, states must test students in grades 3-8 in Reading and Math

By 2007-2008, they must test students in science at least once in elementary middle and high school

A sample of 4th and 8th grade students must participate in the National Assessment of Educational Progress

Academic Progess

States must bring all students to “proficiency” by 2013-2014

Individual schools must meet “adequate yearly progress” (AYP) toward this goal for both their entire student population and identified demographic subgroups

Schools that failing to make AYP two years in a row must be provided with technical assistance and students must be offered the choice to transfer schools; three years in a row requires that students be offered supplemental educational services; continued failure results in outside corrective measures

Report Cards

Starting in 2002-2003, states must publish annual report cards on student achievement and performance by school districts

Districts must provide similar report cards showing school-by-school data

Teacher Qualifications

By the end of the 2005-2006 school year, every teacher in core content areas must be “highly qualified” (certified and knowledgeable in their subject matter discipline)

All school paraprofessionals hired with Title I money must have two years of college, an associate’s degree, or passed a certification test

Reading First

Competitive grant program funded at $1.02 billion in 2004

Helps districts set up “scientific, research-based” reading programs in grades K-3