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.

Explainer

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.
Teaching Profession Opinion Too Much Testing in U.S. Schools: The Department of Education's 'Mea Culpa'
A new report from the Council of the Great City Schools shows over testing is rampant in U.S. schools. The Obama administration says it recognizes its role in the flood of tests, but will this acknowledgment of responsibility result in real change?
Marc Tucker, October 27, 2015
7 min read
Federal Rep. Paul Ryan Close to Taking Over as Speaker: Here's His K-12 Record
Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan is poised to become the next Speaker of the House of Representatives. What does his record indicate what he could do regarding education policy?
Andrew Ujifusa, October 26, 2015
5 min read
Federal Students Take Too Many Redundant Tests, Study Finds
An in-depth review of testing in the nation's largest urban school districts concludes assessments are redundant, misaligned with standards, and often don’t address mastery of specific content.
Denisa R. Superville, October 24, 2015
7 min read
Federal Throwback Thursday: The ESEA Bill the Administration May Be Wishing For
The Obama administration and some civil rights groups didn't get behind an attempt to renew the NCLB law back in 2011. But that bill was stronger, from their perspective, than anything on the table in Congress right now.
Alyson Klein, October 22, 2015
6 min read
Federal U.S. Department of Education Approves More State Teacher-Distribution Plans
The states are: Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, California, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
Alyson Klein, October 22, 2015
2 min read
Federal Which K-12 Programs Will Survive ESEA Reauthorization?
Will the newly reauthorized ESEA include money for elementary and secondary school counselors, afterschool programs, and early-childhood education?
Alyson Klein, October 20, 2015
2 min read
Federal ESEA Rewrite May Put States in Charge of Turnarounds. Are They Ready?
Both pieces of ESEA reauthorization legislation pending in the House and Senate would put states and districts, as opposed to the feds, in the driver's seat when it comes to turnarounds.
Alyson Klein, October 15, 2015
3 min read
President Barack Obama pats U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan’s back as Duncan announces that he will be stepping down in December after seven years in the administration.
President Barack Obama pats U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan’s back as Duncan announces that he will be stepping down in December after seven years in the administration.
Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP
School & District Management Leadership Issues Could Cloud Federal K-12 Picture
Turnover in top leadership in Congress and at the Education Department complicates the prospects for completing unfinished business on education policy.
Alyson Klein, October 12, 2015
6 min read
John B. King Jr., will take over on an acting basis from U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, who leaves office in December.
John B. King Jr., will take over on an acting basis from U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, who leaves office in December.
Andrew Harnik AP
Education Funding Less Leverage Awaits Official to Step In as Ed. Dept. Head
John B. King Jr., who has been filling the duties of deputy federal education secretary, shares policy priorities with those of outgoing Secretary Arne Duncan.
Stephen Sawchuk, October 12, 2015
6 min read
Federal More Leadership Chaos in Washington, More ESEA Forecasting
Congressional aides are said to be burning the midnight oil in a push to get a conference report done quickly, but still produce a well-crafted bill.
Alyson Klein, October 9, 2015
3 min read
Federal Duncan, King, Democratic Senators: New ESEA Must Be Strong on Accountability
The toughest issue in the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act? Finding the sweet spot on accountability.
Alyson Klein, October 8, 2015
4 min read
Education Funding State Tests Due Fresh Scrutiny as Peer Review Relaunches
The U.S. Department of Education has relaunched one of the most powerful tools it wields over states' academic standards and assessments: the "peer review" process that had been suspended for three years.
Catherine Gewertz & Alyson Klein, October 6, 2015
5 min read
Federal News in Brief Education Dept. Renews CORE Districts' Waiver
The U.S. Department of Education has extended the waiver for California's so-called CORE districts and taken them off "high-risk status."
Alyson Klein, October 6, 2015
1 min read
President Barack Obama shakes hands with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan at the White House on Oct. 2, where the president announced that Duncan will be stepping down in December after nearly seven years in the Obama administration. Obama has appointed senior Education Department official, John B. King Jr., center, to oversee the U.S. Department of Education.
President Barack Obama shakes hands with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan at the White House on Oct. 2, where the president announced that Duncan will be stepping down in December after nearly seven years in the Obama administration. Obama has appointed senior Education Department official, John B. King Jr., center, to oversee the U.S. Department of Education.
Andrew Harnik/AP
Federal Arne Duncan Stepping Down as Education Secretary
Duncan, who leaves in December, has pushed through dramatic levels of change in K-12 policy over nearly seven years in office.
Alyson Klein, October 2, 2015
8 min read