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.
See also: Every Student Succeeds Act, Federal Policy
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
Is ESSA the ESEA Reauthorization Bill Arne Duncan Was Hoping For?
The Every Student Succeeds Act would include key Obama administration priorities, such as pre-K, but not others, such as dramatic school turnarounds and teacher evaluation through student outcomes.
Every Student Succeeds Act
Duncan's Legacy Undercut as ESEA Rewrite Advances
On accountability, the bill rocketing through Congress departs from key priorities embraced by Education Secretary Arne Duncan in his seven-year tenure, while firming up his influence on early-education and innovation.
Assessment
No Child Left Behind Rewrite Spells Out Assessment Details
Some provisions in the bill give states more power over assessment, but others protect federal influence in key ways.
Every Student Succeeds Act
With New ESEA Likely, State Chiefs Pledge Better Accountability
A pending update of the federal education law stands to shift the bulk of school-turnaround and accountability work to state superintendents.
Every Student Succeeds Act
ESEA Reauthorization: A Look at a Draft of the Bill
Click here for late stage draft of the actual bill that could become the latest iteration of the ESEA, the Every Student Succeeds Act or ESSA.
Every Student Succeeds Act
Days Could Be Numbered for No Child Left Behind
A bipartisan deal awaiting action in the House and the Senate would rewrite the law to give states lots of leeway on accountability, school turnarounds, and teacher evaluation, while keeping such “transparency” provisions as annual student testing.
Standards & Accountability
Opinion
ESEA Reauthorization and Standards: A Chance to Do It Right
With ESEA reauthorization close at hand, Marc Tucker provides suggestions to state leaders as responsibility for standards and accountability systems moves their way.
Federal
Accountability and the ESEA Reauthorization Deal: Your Cheat Sheet
The compromise agreed to by a congressional conference committee is, in many key ways, a U-turn from the much-maligned No Child Left Behind Act.
Federal
A Peek at What Looks Like Extensive ESEA Reauthorization Language
Check what appears to be at least a late-stage draft of the Every Student Succeeds Act, the name of the ESEA agreement set to replace the No Child Left Behind Act.
Federal
Colorado's NCLB Waiver Extended by Education Department
The state's original NCLB waiver was approved in 2012 for a two-year period, and the just-approved waiver extension is for one year.
Federal
Education Department Approves Nine More States' Teacher-Equity Plans
The plans touch on issues ranging from teacher preparation to student-loan forgiveness, but questions remain on state implementation and U.S. Department of Education oversight.
Federal
With the ESEA Conference Set to Kick Off, Is the End Near for NCLB?
After eight years and at least three serious attempts, Congress is finally moving forward on bipartisan, bicameral legislation to rewrite the almost-universally-despised No Child Left Behind Act.
Federal
ESEA Issue to Watch: How Much Power Should the Education Secretary Have?
Lawmakers in both parties—but especially Republicans—are really unhappy with the way Duncan and Company used Race to the Top, and especially, waivers from many of the mandates of the No Child Left Behind Act.
School & District Management
Opinion
What Keeps Principals Up at Night?
The No Child Left Behind Act has had an impact on principalship, writes Harvard Graduate School of Education's Deborah Jewell-Sherman.