What is the No Child Left Behind Act?

The No Child Left Behind Act is the name of the 2001 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). This legislation provides the major source of federal funding for public education in the U.S. and must be reauthorized by Congress every few years. This particular act has been highly publicized for its dramatic emphasis on improving American schools to create more equitable educational opportunities. According to language in the Act, NCLB's purpose is to "close the achievement gap between high- and low-performing children, especially the achievement gaps between minority and non-minority students, and between disadvantaged children and their more advantaged peers." In other words, NCLB is intended to provide all children with a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education. One of the most significant (and controversial) provisions of NCLB is the requirement that states set standards and conduct annual assessments to gauge school districts' progress in improving students' academic achievement. Other provisions of NCLB include funding for teacher preparation, special assistance to students with poor reading skills, and support for migrant, neglected, homeless, and delinquent students.

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