No Child Left Behind Act

Definition

The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) was a landmark federal education policy enacted in 2001 that aimed to improve student performance and close achievement gaps in American public schools. The act significantly increased the federal government's role in holding schools accountable for the academic progress of all students.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. NCLB required annual testing in reading and math for students in grades 3-8 and once in high school, with the goal of having 100% of students proficient by 2014.
2. Schools that failed to meet AYP targets for two consecutive years were designated as 'in need of improvement' and faced escalating interventions and consequences.
3. NCLB emphasized the use of 'scientifically-based' instructional methods and required teachers to be 'highly qualified' in the subjects they taught.
4. The law provided flexibility to states in exchange for setting standards, testing students, and holding schools accountable for student performance.
5. NCLB was intended to shine a spotlight on achievement gaps between disadvantaged students and their more advantaged peers.

Review Questions

• Describe the key goals and provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act.
  • The primary goals of the No Child Left Behind Act were to improve student performance and close achievement gaps in American public schools. The act mandated annual testing in reading and math for students in grades 3-8 and once in high school, with the aim of having 100% of students proficient by 2014. It also required schools to meet annual performance targets known as Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), and faced escalating interventions and consequences if they failed to do so. Additionally, NCLB emphasized the use of 'scientifically-based' instructional methods and required teachers to be 'highly qualified' in the subjects they taught.
• Explain how the No Child Left Behind Act increased the federal government's role in education.
  • Prior to NCLB, the federal government played a more limited role in education policy, which was largely determined at the state and local levels. However, the No Child Left Behind Act significantly expanded the federal government's involvement by establishing national standards, mandating annual testing, and holding schools accountable for student performance. In exchange for federal funding, states were required to develop standards, administer tests, and report on student progress. This marked a notable shift towards greater federal oversight and control over the nation's public education system.
• Analyze the impact and legacy of the No Child Left Behind Act on American education.
  • The No Child Left Behind Act had a significant and controversial impact on American education. While it succeeded in shining a spotlight on achievement gaps and holding schools more accountable for student outcomes, the act also faced criticism for its rigid, one-size-fits-all approach, over-emphasis on standardized testing, and negative consequences for schools that failed to meet performance targets. The law's legacy is mixed, with some arguing that it led to teaching to the test and narrowing of the curriculum, while others believe it spurred important reforms and improvements in educational quality. Ultimately, the NCLB Act represented a major federal intervention in education that continues to shape debates and policies around school accountability and student achievement.

Related terms

Standardized Testing: The practice of administering uniform, standardized assessments to measure and compare student learning and school performance under NCLB.

Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP): The performance targets set by NCLB that schools had to meet each year to demonstrate improvement in student achievement.

Title I Funding: Federal funding provided to schools and districts with high percentages of low-income students to improve educational opportunities and outcomes.