Public Law 107-110, or “No Child Left Behind”, was signed into law on this day, January 8th, in 2002. The law was an update to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. of 1965. This law increased the federal government’s responsibility for the academic progress of students. The new law was concerned with specific groups of students whose achievement often trailed behind their peers. These groups included special education students, English language learners and poor and minority students. The law held that states must test students from 3rd-8th grade, and once in high school, in reading and math. The goal was for 100% of students to test at the “proficient level” by the 2013-14 school year. No Child Left Behind also required that all teachers be “highly qualified,” meaning that they possess at least a bachelor’s degree in their area of teaching as well as their state certification.
Reference:
Klein, A. (April 2015). No child left behind: An overview. EducationWeek. https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/no-child-left-behind-an-overview/2015/04.