No Child Left Behind Act

Standards for Students

As of 2005, students in third through eighth grades are tested yearly in both English and math. Students are expected to meet the standards for these tests that have been set by their state department of education. In 2007, students will also be tested yearly in science. High school students are required to be tested at least once between the tenth and twelfth grades.

No Child Left Behind Act Standards for Schools

The No Child Left Behind Act requires that every year schools show Adequate Yearly Progress. They are required to increase the number of students who meet the state testing standards yearly. Every American public school is required to file a ‘report card’ giving an account of how many students from every school have met the state standards. Schools are also required to report on how well their teachers have met the standards set by the No Child Left Behind Act. Schools are required by the act to increase opportunities throughout every level of the district for parent involvement. Schools are obligated to improve the academic achievement of their disadvantaged population. Schools that are identified as needing improvement are expected to provide parents with public school choice for the following school year.

Standards for Teachers

The No Child Left Behind Act requires that, by the end of the 2005-2006 school year, all public school teachers be “Highly Qualified”. The criteria for what makes a teacher “Highly Qualified” is set on the state level but must include the requirements that all teacher’s have a bachelor’s degree, be fully certified as defined by the state department of education, and be able to demonstrate subject area competence in any core area taught.

The National Report Card

The National Assessment of Educational Progress recently reported in what has become known as the National Report Card, that the No Child Left Behind Act has failed to improve public school achievement since its implementation in 2002. Statistics show there has been little improvement in student math performance and almost no improvement in reading. There has been more improvement at the elementary level than there has been at the middle or secondary levels. The act has not reduced the gap that separates low income and students of color from the rest of the school population. The report card implies that many states have set their standards too low and that little has been done to assure all students qualified and experienced teachers.

No Child Left Behind Act Summary

The No Child Left Behind Act, PL107-110 continues to be a focus of the Bush administration and continues to be hotly debated by Americans. To view the act or to learn more about it, go to Ed Gov.com.