THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT OF 2001: AN OVERVIEW
The NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND (NCLB) ACT of 2001 is a federal law to improve education for all children. It holds schools responsible for results, gives parents greater choices, and promotes teaching methods that work. This overview will point out parts of the law that are important for parents to know.
NCLB Gives Resources to Schools and School Districts
Title I
Part of the NCLB law, Title I is the largest federal elementary and secondary education program. Title I funds help educators improve teaching and learning for thousands of North Dakota State students in economically disadvantaged communities. Because parents are so important for children's success, Title I schools must have a plan that encourages parents to become partners in children's education. This plan is known as a Parent Involvement Policy.
The NCLB law requires schools that receive federal Title I funds to ensure that all students meet challenging academic standards. It also requires other school programs that receive federal funds to improve student achievement.
NCLB Gives Schools Increased Responsibility for Results
Standards for Progress
All states are responsible for setting strong academic standards for what every child should know at every grade. North Dakota State has high standards for its students. Each state must measure the progress of districts and schools in meeting those standards. Each district and school is expected to make adequate yearly progress toward achieving these standards.
Defining Adequate Yearly Progress
The NCLB law requires that every school strive to improve. Each state sets academic standards and yearly goals for achievement. By 2014, the goal of NCLB is that all children should be achieving at the proficiency level in reading, language arts, math, and science. Adequate yearly progress is the minimum level of improvement school districts and schools must achieve every year to meet this goal.
Testing Every Year
State achievement tests measure how well students are learning in elementary, middle, and high school. Testing helps identify schools that are doing well and schools that need to do better. In North Dakota, elementary and middle school students now take state achievement tests in English language arts (ELA) and math. In high school, students take the Regent's examinations. By 2005, the NCLB law will require every state to test students in grades 3-8 and in high school on what they know in ELA and math. By 2007, students will be tested in science, too. NCLB provides for reasonable accommodations in tests for students with disabilities.
School Report Cards
The NCLB law requires all states to publish report cards on school districts and schools. The report cards that North Dakota parents receive will have more information as a result of this law. The report cards will not only show how well all students are doing, but must show if there are achievement gaps among different groups of students based on economic background, race and ethnic group membership, English language proficiency, and disabilities. School report cards will also identify schools in need of improvement and show high school graduation rates and teacher qualifications. The report card should be available in languages parents can understand.
Consequences for Schools in Need of Improvement
If a school does not show adequate yearly progress for two years in a row, then the school is identified as being in need of improvement. The school must take action, with help from its district and the North Dakota State Education Department, to improve the performance of its students. The school plan for improvement must include ways that parents can work with the principal and teachers to help the school improve.
NCLB Gives Parents New Options
Children who are in schools in need of improvement are at risk of falling farther and farther behind in learning. NCLB gives new options to parents whose children are in need of improvement.
If your child's school is in need of improvement and fails to make adequate yearly progress for an additional year, parents have another option.
NCLB Promotes Teaching Methods That Work
Higher Qualifications for Teachers and Paraprofessionals
For children to be successful, teachers must be well prepared. Today, some teachers are not well prepared to teach the grade level or subject they are assigned. This is a serious problem in schools that are struggling to meet their academic goals. NCLB requires school districts to hire only qualified teachers and paraprofessionals. It offers new resources so that teachers and paraprofessionals who are not qualified now can receive the training they need.
Teachers of Limited English Proficiency (LEP) students must be proficient in English. IF a bilingual program is provided, teachers must be proficient in English and the native language. Teachers must be able to fully speak, read and write in both languages.
Helping All Children Read Well
The NCLB law puts reading at the top of the list for children in America's schools. Children who start school with strong language and pre-reading skills are likely to learn to read well. Children who read well in the early grades will do better in school in the later years. Too many children are not able to read well. This is especially true in schools that teach children who are economically disadvantaged.
Because reading is so important, the NCLB law is funding two new reading programs, Reading First and Early Reading First. They are based on scientific research that shows what kinds of reading instruction are most likely to get good results. Reading First will help kindergarten through third grade teachers improve reading instruction. Early Reading First will help preschool teachers get children ready to read well.
Help for Students to Learn English
Speaking, reading, and writing English are critical skills for all students. Students who are new to this country or come from a home where a language other than English is spoken, may need special help to learn English. Under NCLB, parents of students who are LEP will get more information about bilingual and ESL programs for their children. Parents have the right to make decisions about these programs.