|
NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND
(NCLB
Website - US Dept of Education)
U.S. Secretary of Education
Margaret Spellings met with members of the Illinois Business
Roundtable on January 25, 2007 in Chicago to discuss the
re-authorization of the No Child Left Behind Act.
NCLB
2007-Impacts in Illinois (.pdf)
NCLB
2007-Illinois Funding (.xls)
Overview and
Highlights of No Child Left Behind
President Bush signed
into law January 8, 2002 the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB)
- a historic law that will change the culture of America's schools
and, most important, improve student achievement in classrooms
across the country.
The No Child Left
Behind Act of 2001 passed both houses of Congress by overwhelming
bipartisan majorities, fulfilling President Bush's promise to offer
America's students meaningful education reform as his foremost
domestic policy priority.
NCLB is the latest
revision of the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
and is regarded as the most significant federal education policy
initiative in a generation.
The overall purpose of the law is to ensure that each child in
America is able to meet the high learning standards of the state
where he or she lives.
The specific goals of
the law are:
-
All students will
reach high standards, at a minimum attaining proficiency or
better in reading and mathematics by 2013-2014.
-
By 2013-2014, all
students will be proficient in reading by the end of the third
grade.
-
All limited
English proficient students will become proficient in English.
-
By 2005-2006, all
students will be taught by highly qualified teachers.
-
All students will
be educated in learning environments that are safe, drug free
and conducive to learning.
-
All students will
graduate from high school.
To help schools and
districts meet these goals, the law provides a blend of
requirements, incentives and resources. The requirements
include:
-
Annual testing of
all students against state standards in reading and mathematics
in grades 3-8 and in science at three times in a student's
school career (including once in high school).
-
"Verification"
of each state's assessment system via required participation
(every other year) by selected districts in the NAEP test.
-
Aggregate and
disaggregate analysis and reporting of student achievement
results.
-
A state definition
and timeline for determining whether a school, district and the
state are making "adequate yearly progress" (AYP)
toward the goal of 100 percent of students meeting state
standards by the 2013-2014 school year.
-
Technical
assistance and then sanctions for schools, districts and the
state for failure to make AYP.
-
Highly qualified
teachers in core academic subjects by 2005-2006.
-
Highly qualified
aides or paraprofessionals.
-
Support for
students not meeting standards and/or for those who have special
needs (e.g., homeless, limited-English-proficiency).
The use of "scientifically-based" programs and
strategies.
| 