On January 8, 2002, President George W. Bush signed into law the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. This law represents an education reform plan that contains the most sweeping changes to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act since it was enacted in 1965. The NCLB Act’s intent was to help improve student achievement by setting standards, requiring frequent testing and holding school districts accountable for student performance. NCLB contains four guiding principles:
- Schools are expected to teach students using methods proven to be successful.
- Schools and districts must demonstrate that all students are making academic progress.
- Teachers and paraprofessionals (such as classroom aides) must be highly qualified to work with students.
- Parents are given more information and more choices concerning their child’s education.
NCLB/ESEA is currently subject to congressional reauthorization. In March of 2010, the Obama administration released its framework for revising the ESEA. Click here to see the U.S. Department of Education’s Blueprint for Reform, The Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (PDF). |
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