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A Primer on the
No Child Left Behind Act of 2001
The No Child Left Behind federal legislation was signed into law in
January, 2002. It re-defines the federal role in K-12 education to
improve academic performance for all students based on four guiding principles:
1. Increased accountability for results
2. Increased flexibility and local control
3. Expanded options for parents
4. Emphasis on teaching methods that are proven to work
NCLB Requirements for Increased Accountability for Results:
* Requires state and local report cards that present student achievement levels
* Establishes annual assessments for every child in grades 3-8
* Requires states to implement a single statewide accountability system
* Requires states to establish measurable objectives (AYP-annual yearly progress) that will lead to all students being proficient by the
2013 - 14 school year
* Increases funding for state and local support for school improvement*
Disaggregating Student Groups
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In order to ensure that no child is left behind, NCLB requires schools to disaggregate student achievement results by student groups:
× Racial/ethnic group
× Income level
× Limited English proficiency status
× Disability status
This new NCLB accountability requirement obliges the state and local districts to make adequate yearly progress (AYP) for each student group:
White, African-American, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, LEP, Students with Disabilities, Low-income
Factors that Hinder Student Achievement
* School Factors
* Limited participation of minority student in rigorous courses
* Watered-down instruction
* Less-qualified or experienced teachers
* Teachers with lower expectations
* Resource disparities between high-minority schools and other schools
* Concentration of low-income and minority students in certain schools
* School climate less conductive to learning
* Student performance anxiety
* Negative peer pressure
* Disparities in access to high-quality preschool
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