No Child Left Behind Act

Education news, analysis, and opinion about the version of the Elementary and Secondary Schools Act in place from 2002 to 2015. It was replaced by the Every Student Succeeds Act.

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No Child Left Behind: An Overview
A primer on the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. Its successor, the Every Student Succeeds Act, replaced NCLB in Dec. 2015.
Every Student Succeeds Act States Adjust Course on School Turnaround Districts
The new school year brings changes for states that are starting—or, in at least one case, dropping—state-directed efforts to improve some of their lowest-performing schools.
Daarel Burnette II, September 5, 2017
6 min read
Every Student Succeeds Act Are States Leaning on Waivers From Past Law for Their New Education Plans?
States aren't necessarily keen to toss overboard what they put in their waivers from the No Child Left Behind Act when crafting their direction under the Every Student Succeeds Act.
Andrew Ujifusa, July 5, 2017
3 min read
Every Student Succeeds Act States Struggle to Define 'Ineffective Teachers' Under ESSA
The Every Student Succeeds Act has reignited battles over how to determine which teachers fall short and whether state or local leaders should make those decisions.
Daarel Burnette II, May 30, 2017
6 min read
School & District Management School Closures: What Do They Mean for Students and Communities?
Only 8 percent of all schools closed were replaced with new schools that served the same grades, finds a new Urban Institute study.
Sarah D. Sparks, March 27, 2017
2 min read
Every Student Succeeds Act State ESSA Plans Seek to Be Ambitious But Achievable
Some already are proposing tight timelines to meet their state-determined goals under the Every Student Succeeds Act, while others worry about boxing themselves in.
Daarel Burnette II, January 17, 2017
6 min read
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Federal Opinion Will Betsy DeVos Divide the School Choice Movement?
The political alliance between charter school and voucher supporters may be fraying, writes Jeffrey R. Henig.
Jeffrey R. Henig, January 17, 2017
5 min read
A Dispatch From Outgoing U.S. Education Secretary: In his final Commentary as education secretary, John B. King Jr. considers the state of American schooling.
Jonathan Bouw for Education Week
Every Student Succeeds Act Opinion A Dispatch From the Outgoing U.S. Education Secretary
In his final Commentary as education secretary, John B. King Jr. considers the state of American schooling.
John B. King Jr., January 17, 2017
5 min read
President Barack Obama prepares to sign the Every Student Succeeds Act, on Dec. 10, 2015. The administration took office with an ambitious agenda on K-12 issues, fueled by federal aid to help the nation recover from the recession.
President Barack Obama prepares to sign the Every Student Succeeds Act, on Dec. 10, 2015. The administration took office with an ambitious agenda on K-12 issues, fueled by federal aid to help the nation recover from the recession.
Susan Walsh/AP-File
Every Student Succeeds Act Obama's Legacy on K-12 One of Bold Achievements, Fierce Blowback
The president entered office in 2009 with education a top priority, scoring game-changing policy wins in some areas before hitting stiff headwinds in his second term.
Alyson Klein, January 10, 2017
6 min read
BRIC ARCHIVE
Chris Whetzel for Education Week
Every Student Succeeds Act Making Sure That Schools Measure Up Under ESSA
Here's a concise guide to key school accountability provisions in the Every Student Succeeds Act, including how states and districts handle teacher evaluation, gauge school progress, and fix their lowest-performing schools.
Alyson Klein, December 30, 2016
5 min read
Every Student Succeeds Act Report Roundup Accountability Data
Filled with jargon, "meaningless" tables and missing data, state report cards can be difficult for parents to use, an analysis by the Data Quality Campaign says.
Sarah D. Sparks, December 13, 2016
1 min read
Federal Kansas Governor Warns of Tax Hike if State Loses Funding Case
The state's highest court is weighing the "adequacy" of the Kansas school funding system and previously ruled that the system is inequitable.
Daarel Burnette II, October 12, 2016
3 min read
Every Student Succeeds Act ESSA Clears Out Underbrush on School Improvement Path
The new federal K-12 law gives states and districts a freer hand in fixing their lowest-performing schools, but questions loom on whether that leeway will translate into better outcomes.
Alyson Klein, September 27, 2016
8 min read
Students Bradley Hart 16, left, and Fadhili Maina, 17, work on an experiment during a 12th grade AP Biology class at Franklin High School in Reisterstown, Md.
Students Bradley Hart 16, left, and Fadhili Maina, 17, work on an experiment during a 12th grade AP Biology class at Franklin High School in Reisterstown, Md.
Photos by Gabriella Demczuk for Education Week
Every Student Succeeds Act Assuring Needy Groups of Students Aren't Overlooked
A focus on the bottom of the scale may mask challenges for higher-performing schools when it comes to boosting achievement for students who lag behind.
Denisa R. Superville, September 27, 2016
9 min read
North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory, a Republican who is running for re-election, speaks at a candidate forum in Charlotte, N.C.
North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory, a Republican who is running for re-election, speaks at a candidate forum in Charlotte, N.C.
Chuck Burton/AP-File
Every Student Succeeds Act ESSA Raises K-12 Stakes in 2016 State-Level Elections
Whoever voters pick in November's legislative and gubernatorial races will have significant new leverage in shaping states' education agendas under the Every Student Succeeds Act.
Daarel Burnette II, September 12, 2016
7 min read