No Child Left Behind and its Regulatory Process
No Child Left Behind is an important piece of legislation, but it is far from perfect. The political compromises made during the passage of No Child Left Behind have complicated its regulatory process. The Secretary of Education plays a key role in this process. In 2002, the Department of Education touted its progress and pledged to remain firm in its enforcement of the law. The regulatory process will help determine whether or not the legislation has been effectively implemented.
The Every Student Succeeds Act
The proposed Every Student Succeeds Act, which is expected to replace No Child Left Behind, would make a number of changes to education and school funding policy. The new law, which would eliminate No Child Left Behind's accountability scheme, would give states and local education agencies more control over the education process. While there are still some major stumbling blocks, the legislation's bipartisan support is strong. Despite its flaws, the Every Student Succeeds Act is expected to pass the House of Representatives and the Senate this week. President Obama has promised to sign it into law.
Origin of NCLB: Elementary and Secondary Education Act
NCLB is based on the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Originally enacted in 1965, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act is a federal law that focuses on student academic achievement. It requires states to set high standards, including those for reading and mathematics. It also requires ambitious targets for special education students. The act also does not penalize schools that are struggling; instead, it gives them additional funds and forces them to develop an improvement plan. The primary goal of NCLB is to bring all students to proficiency on state tests.
Annual Testing Requirement
It requires annual tests. The No Child Left Behind Act requires annual tests for students in grades three through eight and for students in grades 10 and 12 in reading and math. Beginning in 2008, science assessments are required as well. These tests must measure student achievement and should be aligned with academic content standards set by the state. NCLB requires results to be reported for the whole school, as well as for specific subgroups of historically underachieving students. These results are used to determine how well a school is doing, and whether it should be improved.
New Opportunities for States
It gives states a chance to start fresh. The No Child Left Behind law has helped 42 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico get a clean slate from the program's mandates. Under the new law, states are not required to meet the federal proficiency standard by the end of the 2013-14 school year. The law also gives states a chance to start over with a focus on student growth, rather than on meeting the federal standard.
National Achievement Standards
It doesn't assert national achievement standards. No Child Left Behind (NCLB) is an education law signed by President George W. Bush in 2002. The goal was to improve the quality of education for the nation's children, and to ensure that all students receive a high-quality education. The Act required states to develop plans to meet certain requirements, including meeting annual academic progress standards. Each plan must have measurable objectives, which local school districts must report on each year.
