Today In History: NCLB Is Signed Into Law

As America enters the 21^st Century full of hope and promise, too many of our neediest students are being left behind. -- President George W. Bush, News and Reports from the White House.

On January 8th, 2002 the "No Child Left Behind" Act of 2001 was signed into law by Congress with bipartisan support from Democrats and Republicans. Promoted by President George Bush who proposed the use of federal aid to create the plan, this landmark act aimed to close the achievement gap with accountability, flexibility, and choice of schooling -- and drew storms of controversy over standardized testing, school vouchers; sanctions for failing schools, and lack of funding to improve student achievement, particularly in poor or disadvantaged areas. While the Act allowed states to develop their own standards, it did not set national achievement standards, and it led to high stakes testing as proof of educational outcomes and accountability.

Initiatives such as the New York State School Finance Reform Project and The Campaign for Fiscal Equity, Center for Educational Equity, draw attention to problems and policies in K-12 public education, including the impact of legislation, and demonstrate the role of Teachers College, Columbia University in affecting change.

NCLB was succeeded in 2015 by "Every Child Succeeds", an act signed into law by President Barack Obama that aimed to prepare all students for success in college and careers.

The following articles are drawn from Proquest Historical Newspapers, which informs and inspires classroom teaching and learning.

• Braunlich, C., & Castro, I. (2002, Jul 18). Measuring the Give and Take of Vouchers. The Washington Post (1974-) 
• Now's the Time to Test Standardized Tests. (2007, Feb 22). The Christian Science Monitor (1908-) 
• No Child Left Behind Has Failed. (2007, Mar 12). Chicago Defender (Daily Edition) (1973-) 
• Reichgott, M. (2007, Mar 26). Testing Companies "Buckling" Under NCLB. Chicago Defender (Daily Edition) (1973-) 
• Let the 'No Child' Law Do Its Work. (2007, Sep 25). The Christian Science Monitor (1908-) 
• Paulson, A.  (2008, Jan 09). Chicago's Mixed Record on School Reform: Bush Cites City's Gains on Sixth Anniversary of No Child Left Behind. The Christian Science Monitor (1908-) 
• Hirsch, E. D., J. (2008, Feb 16). The Knowledge Connection. The Washington Post (1974-) 
• Education Reform: Can Obama's Budget Rescue No Child Left Behind? (2010, Feb 02). The Christian Science Monitor (1908-) 
• Ravitch, D. (2010, Mar 09). Why I Changed My Mind About School Reform. Wall Street Journal (1923-) 
• Our View:  Mend the 'No Child' Law But Don't End It. (2015, Apr 22). USA Today (1982-) 

Tips:

• Chubb, J. E. (2009). Learning from No Child Left Behind : How and Why the Nation’s Most Important But Controversial Education Law Should Be Renewed (1st ed.). Hoover Institution Press, Stanford University. e-book.
• Hamilton, L. S. (2007). Standards-Based Accountability Under No Child Left Behind : Experiences of Teachers and Administrators in Three States. Rand Corporation. e-book.
• Kahlenberg, R. D. (2008). Improving on No Child Left Behind : Getting Education Reform Back on Track. Century Foundation Press. Stacks ; LB2806.22 .I477 2008.
• No Child Left Behind Act of 2001: Annual Report to Congress. (2005). In US Department of Education. US Department of Education. e-report.
• Popham, W. J. (2004). America’s “Failing” Schools : How Parents and Teachers Can Cope with No Child Left Behind (1st ed.). RoutledgeFalmer. e-book.
• Rhodes, J. H. (2012). An Education in Politics : The Origins and Evolution of No Child Left Behind (1st ed.). Cornell University Press. e-book.
• Shaker, P., & Heilman, E. E. (2008). Reclaiming Education for Democracy: Thinking Beyond No Child Left Behind (1st ed.). Routledge. e-book.
• Vinovskis, M. A. (2009). From a Nation at Risk to No Child Left Behind : National Education Goals and the Creation of Federal Education Policy. Teachers College Press. e-book. Stacks ; LB3060.83 .V56 2009.

Images:

• Children Taking Tests, Courtesy of Canva
• USDE Headquarters, Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

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