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• Signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2002, the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) was intended to improve the performance of U.S. schools. The act increased accountability at the state and local levels for the improvement of student performance, as measured by a series of standardized tests. No Child Left Behind also seeks to provide parents with more options when choosing schools. NCLB one of the most hotly debated standards-based education reforms.

• Fast Facts

  1. Increased focus on the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
  2. Passed the U.S. House of Representatives on May 23, 2001
  3. Passed the U.S. Senate on June 14, 2001
  4. Signed by President George W. Bush on January 8, 2002
  5. Re-authorized in 2007
  6. Requires that 100% of students meet reading and math standards by 2014
  7. President Barack Obama has announced his plans to reform NCLB
  8. It is expected that the Secretary of Education in the Obama Administration, Arne Duncan, will work with Obama to reform the act

• Criticisms

  The incentives and penalties used to encourage compliance with No Child Left Behind, have led critics to claim that states and school systems are "gaming" the system in order to meet the new standards. Critics also believe that the use of standardized testing as a metric for success, encourages teachers to emphasize testing skills over general education. These issues, combined with a general lack of funding, have led critics of NCLB to label it as an unreasonable mandate.

• Related Mahalo Pages

  George W. Bush | The Bush Administration | Margaret Spellings | School Vouchers | Barack Obama | Arne Duncan

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