'No Child Left Behind' and Its Implications for Special Education

CEC's No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 -Implications for Special Education Policy and Practice
 

No Child Left Behind Act Web Site

On Jan. 8, 2002, President Bush signed into law the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). This new law represents his education reform plan and contains the most sweeping changes to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) since it was enacted in 1965.

Stronger Accountability For Results

States are responsible for having strong academic standards for what every child should know and learn in reading, math, and science for elementary, middle and high schools. Beginning in the 2002-03 school year, schools must administer tests in each of three grade spans: grades 3-5, grades 6-9, and grades 10-12 in all schools. Beginning in the 2005-06 school year, tests must be administered every year in grades 3 through 8. Beginning in the 2007-08 school year, science achievement must also be tested.
 

• Results of these tests will show up in annual state and district report cards, so parents can measure their school's performance and their state's progress.
• The state and district reports that parents see will show results for every student group. These reports show us achievement gaps between students who are economically disadvantaged, from racial and ethnic minority groups, have disabilities, or have limited English proficiency. The report cards will also sort results by gender and migrant status. Having this information will help close the achievement gap between students of different groups and make sure that no child is left behind.
• Schools will be responsible for improving the academic performance of all students, and there will be real consequences for districts and schools that fail to make progress.
• Within twelve years, all students must perform at a proficient level under their state standards. But, states will set their own standards for each grade--so each state will say how well children should be reading at the end of third grade, for example. Interested parents, families, and taxpayers can look to their state for detailed information about its academic standards.

More Choices for Parents

No Child Left Behind offers many new ways to help students, schools, and teachers. It also gives parents options for helping their children if they are enrolled in chronically failing schools. In fact these new parental choices will be available starting in the 2002-03 school year for students already enrolled in schools that have been identified as failing under current law.
 

• Parents with a child enrolled in a failing school will be able to transfer their child to a better performing public school or public charter school.
• For the first time, parents with children in a failing school will be able to use federal education funds for what are called "supplemental education services." Those services include tutoring, after school services, and summer school programs.
• In 2002 approximately $200 million in federal funds could be available to state and local communities to help establish and fund charter schools. Parents interested in charter schools should check for information in their local school district or their state education agency. They can also check out the Department of Education website www.ed.gov for further information.

No Child Left Behind gives every parent the information, options and freedom to get help for their sons and daughters trapped in failing schools.

• Parents of children in persistently failing schools will have the choice to direct district funds toward transportation costs to a better public school or toward supplemental services (tutoring or after-school programs) for their children.

Getting Extra Help for Your Child...

On January 8, 2002, President Bush signed his education plan No Child Left Behind into law. The law united both political parties behind the principle that schools must be held accountable for their results and that every child must learn. As part of that law, when a disadvantaged child is attending a low performing school, federal funds can be used to provide "supplemental services" for that child.

What are "supplemental services"?
The term "supplemental services" refers to extra help provided to students in reading, language arts and math. This extra help can be provided before or after school, on weekends. This new law requires your school district to offer a list of state-approved service providers in your area. They already may have a list of services, including tutoring, extra classes, and other help for your child.

How does the provider get paid?
In most cases your school district will pay for the supplemental services directly. Once you select a program or tutor, you will meet with the provider and district staff. You will all set specific academic goals for your child, how those goals will be measured, and when they will be achieved. Contact your principal to find out how it works.

How Do I Know...

How do I know if my child's school is in need of improvement?
By law school districts are required to promptly tell you if your child's school is in need of improvement. Your state is also required to publish a list of schools deemed in need of improvement. You can also contact the Department of Education, which is tracking school improvement for parents.

Contact your State Department of Education to learn
whether your school is listed as in need of improvement.
1-800-392-8020

Resources:

Supplemental Services Brochure (PDF)

Sign up for our No Child Left Behind newsletter.

No Child Left Behind Resource Links

• Paraprofessional Requirements - Letter from US Department of Education  (PDF)
  Paraprofessional Requirements
  
   
• The US Department of Education's No Child Left Behind Website 
  http://www.nochildleftbehind.gov/
  
   
• The No Child Left Behind Act of 2002 - Complete version (PDF)
  http://www.ncbe.gwu.edu/library/policy/nclb.htm
  
   
• Thomas B. Fordham Foundation - "No Child Left Behind: What Will it Take?"
  http://www.edexcellence.net/NCLBconference/NCLBconferenceindex.html
  
   
• Learning First Alliance - "Major Changes to ESEA in the No Child Left Behind Act" Summary of the changes to ESEA (PDF)
  http://learningfirst.org/pdfs/nochildleft.pdf
  
   
• No Child Left Behind - Executive Summary
  http://www.ed.gov/nclb/exec-summ.html
  
   
• Scientifically Based Research - U.S. Department of Education
  http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/esea/research/index.html
  
   
• No State Left Behind: The Challenges and Opportunities of ESEA 2001
  http://www.ecs.org/clearinghouse/32/37/3237.doc
  
   
• Colorado State Information: No Child Left Behind - President Bush Signs Landmark Education Reforms into Law Bipartisan Effort Reaps Historic Freedom and Flexibility for Colorado Schools
  http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/esea/colorado.html
  
   
• National Association of State Title I Directors (includes order form for No Child Left Behind CD)
  http://titlei.org/main.html
  
   
• Title II Teacher Quality - Research on Teacher Preparation and Professional Development by  Grover J. Whitehurst, Ph.D.
  http://www.ed.gov/inits/preparingteachersconference/whitehurst.html
  
   
• Title II Part A Guidance - Improving Teacher Quality State Grants. 
  http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/SIP/Title11guidance2002.doc
  
   
• Public School Choice and Supplemental Services - Letter from Secretary Paige
  www.ed.gov/News/Letters/020614.html