No Child Left Behind (NCLB)
No Child Left Behind (NCLB), signed into federal law by President Bush in 2002, is having a tremendous impact on Michigan's public schools and schools across the country. The legislation represents the largest ever involvement in K-12 education by the federal government.
The law was designed around the idea that not all students are making the academic progress they need to make in order to become successful adults. Three key requirements of the new law are: closing the achievement gap for low-income students, minority students, and students with disabilities; holding schools accountable for all students performing at a high level; and having a "highly qualified" teacher in every classroom.
NCLB strives for each student to be proficient in reading and mathematics (as defined by each state) by the 2013-14 school year. States will set incremental percentage goals based on 2001-02 data and what it will take to get to 100 percent proficiency by 2013-14. Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) made toward the 2013-14 goal will be measured in terms of student subgroups for a school, district, or state. The same target goals will apply to all subgroups in all schools across the state. Those subgroups are: 1) the school as a whole; 2) white; 3) African American; 4) Native American; 5) Asian/Pacific Islander; 6) Hispanic; 7) multiracial; 8) limited English proficient; 9) students with disabilities; and 10) economically disadvantaged students.
If even one student subgroup in one subject does not make its targeted goal, then the entire building is considered as not making AYP.
