The No Child Left Behind Act - 1124 Words

Christian J. Green Dr. Shoulders NCLB and ESSA 28 February 2016 The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) was authorized by and signed into law in 2002. NCLB was a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965. NCLB was meant to hold schools to higher standards, enforce accountability, and close achievement gaps that had existed in education since ESEA was enacted. Nevertheless, the rigorous standards and goals set forth under NCLB were never attained. ESEA Flexibility could be attained from the U.S. Department of Education starting in 2012. The accountability plans states were allowed to develop under their ESEA Flexibility replaced Adequate Yearly Progress or AYP that was established under No Child Left Behind.†¦show more content†¦ESSA also expands to include components about preschool and post-secondary education. NCLB and ESSA differ on testing, issues of common core, accountability, and the resolution of accountability issues. NCLB required almost ten state standardized tests be given to st udents during their twelve years of education. States were mandated to test students on math and English every year in the third through eighth grades. One more test in both subjects was required in high school. It also mandated at least one science test in elementary, middle and high school. ESSA differs in terms of how, when, and possibly what tests are given. The same number of tests are required, but these tests can be broken into smaller portions. States are now encourage to find new methods of testing (that are scientifically based). No Child Left Behind did not address Common Core (a program of curriculum developed by a majority of states). This is because Common Core did not emerge until after NCLB was signed into law. ESSA allows states to adopt Common Core, however, Common Core was developed by the States and is not a federal program. Therefore, it is not a requirement. In fact, the Education Department is to remain neutral: The Secretary shall not attempt to influence, incentivize, or coerce State adoption of the Common Core†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The next two items that NCLB and ESSA differed on were accountability and the remediation that