No matter what your leaning is politically, if you have gone to college or are considering your options for your higher education aspirations, you know the importance of education. This is especially true if you are considering studying education. One president after the next has made lofty campaign promises surrounding every child’s right to a fair and adequate education. The No Child Left Behind act of 2001 was President George W. Bush administration’s attempt at providing this basic human right to children of the country during his 2-terms as Commander in Chief.
5 Important, Must-Know Facts About The NCLB Act of 2001
Though the No Child Left Behind Act was replaced by the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 under President Barack Obama’s administration, it is important for those entering the field of education to understand how these acts evolve to include more Americans within their margins. There is much criticism regarding NCLB, but there are at least 5 important and positive aspects of the bill that should be noted by anyone studying education legislation.
1. Schools Were Required To Track Progress
One of the main focal points of the bill was accountability, with the hopes of forcing school departments to improve their standards of learning for all students. Though this demand for accountability resulted in cheating scandals in some schools struggling to achieve high test scores, there was true improvement in others. Schools that meet their goals were rewarded. On the other hand, and schools that did not meet their goals for two consecutive years were labeled “in need of improvement”. Families were notified when the label was assigned.
2.The Act Was Funded By The Fed and Reached More Broadly Than Ever Before
NCLB allowed more money to be spent on education than ever before, with special Title 1 funding sent to school districts in low-income areas used to improve schools and their programs. More than $1-billion in NCLB funding was spent annually on a reading program that ensured all children received adequate instruction learning to read. NCLB also allowed for States and Districts to spend their monies flexibly.
3.Scientifically Proven Education Was Key
The NCLB Act wanted teachers to implement teaching methods that were scientifically proven to be successful rather than fads and trends with no research backing up their effectiveness.
4.Quality Teachers Equals Quality Education
The act required teachers to be qualified, and set aside funds to help teachers become better than ever before. It was mandated that all teachers be licensed and hold at a minimum, a bachelor’s degree. The act also required teachers to be educated in the area they were teaching (i.e. math, science, history, music, etc.).
5.Unhappy With Your School? Choose Another
NCLB allowed parents to move their children to a school within the district (or surrounding area, within reason) that possessed a better “rating” if their school was below standards for two consecutive years, resulting in the label of needing improvement. This clause allowed parents to hold more control over their children’s educations.
Becoming A Certified Teacher
As legislation revolving around education changes, so will the wide variety of teaching opportunities available to qualified individuals. Learn more about degree programs and teaching certifications in your area to find out how you can become a teacher, today!
See also: 20 Most Affordable Master’s in Special Education in Learning Disabilities Degrees
