The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the main federal law affecting education from kindergarten through high school. It is built on the principles of accountability for results, more choices for parents, greater local control and flexibility and an emphasis on doing what works based on scientific research.
Some of the more common terms connected with NCLB:
Title I
This is the part of No Child Left Behind that supports programs in schools and school districts to improve the learning of children from low-income families. The U.S. Department of Education provides Title I funds to states to give to school districts based on the number of children from low-income families in each district.
State assessments
Tests developed by the state that your child will take every year in grades three through eight and at least once in high school. Using these tests, the state can compare schools to each other and know which ones need extra help to improve.
Adequate Yearly Progress
The term used to explain that your child’s school has met state reading and math goals. The law requires a state definition and timeline for determining whether a school, district and the state makes Adequate Yearly Progress toward the goal of 100 percent of students meeting state standards by 2013-2014.
School in Need of Improvement
The term used to refer to schools receiving Title I funds that have not met state reading and math goals for at least two years. If your child’s school is labeled a"school in need of improvement,” it receives extra help to improve and your child may have the option to transfer to another public school, including a public charter school. Also, your child may be eligible to receive free tutoring and extra help with schoolwork.
Highly qualified teacher
No Child Left Behind requires that students be taught by a highly qualified teacher in core academic subjects. These teachers must prove they know the subject they are teaching, have a college degree and are state-certified.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education
