No Child Left Behind Act

In January 2002, President George W. Bush signed into law the revised Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), also called the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001. This law represents the most significant change in federal education policy since the first ESEA was enacted in 1965. It impacts the way public education is conducted in every state and school that receives federal ESEA funding. Consequently, the 1,180-page NCLB Act continues to be analyzed and implemented by state departments of education across the U.S., making it impossible to provide a definitive explanation of many of the federal mandates and the state programs implementing them.

The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) does require:

• Annual testing in reading and math for all students grades 3-8 and 10;
• Regular reporting of test results to parents and the public;
• Fully qualified teachers in every classroom; and
• Greater choice for students in chronically failing schools.

States are free to develop their own systems of accountability based on state standards and assessments. Once those systems are in place, states are rewarded for improving student performance. However, if states fail to make sufficient progress, as defined by the law, they risk losing part of their federal funding. Individual schools that fail to show student progress from year to year in all demographic groups can be sanctioned and eventually reconstituted or closed.

Because of changes still in progress to align Oregon’s education standards and requirements with the new federal law, this Curriculum section of Covering Education includes only general information about state and federal education standards and requirements. However, this section does include the Oregon School Boards Association, Oregon Department of Education and other state, federal and national resources that can be accessed on the Internet for current and detailed information about state and federal education laws, standards and requirements.

For details about Oregon Educational Act requirements, contact the Office of Educational Support Services, Communications Team at the Oregon Department of Education, (503) 378-3600. See ORS Chapter 329 for Oregon’s Educational Act for the 21st Century statutes, or the Oregon Department of Education for current requirements and rules.

For details about the federal NCLB requirements, see information and links to additional information from OSBA, or the U.S. Department of Education.

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