No Child Left Behind

The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) was enacted on January 8, 2002. NCLB focuses on accountability for all schools, local control, and options for parents. The legislation requires schools to use research-based curricula and instructional techniques that have been proven to work in classrooms across the United States.

NCLB aims to help teachers by providing a way for them to gain information about each child's academic ability through yearly testing in the areas of reading and math in grades 3-8 and 10-12. Assessments provide information about each child's strengths and weaknesses, thus aiding in the development of lesson plans and instruction geared for each child to have success. No Child Left Behind provides resources to schools and teachers to help in the education of students. States can apply to qualify for "Reading First" funds.

NCLB also aims to help parents. Parents are given information about their child's and schools' progress in the area of reading and math each year in grades 3-8 and 10-12. In the 2007-08 school year science will also be assessed. School districts must provide parents with the academic achievement of a child on these yearly assessments, as well as an easy to read report card documenting student achievement in the school.

See our Glossary for common terms used in discussions of NCLB such as: adequate yearly progress (AYP), local education agency (LEA), state educational agency (SEA), and supplemental services.

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