No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)/ESEA
It's time for a Change
Our Positions
The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, the current incarnation of Lyndon Johnson's Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), established goals that everyone supports: high standards and accountability for the learning of all children. But NCLB's test-and-punish approach does not move us toward those goals.
NCLB is now up for reauthorization by Congress. NEA has developed guidelines for changing the law so it helps schools improve education and close achievement gaps. We encourage Congress to listen to educators' voices in developing the new law.
- NEA's 8 Principles for ESEA/NCLB Reauthorization
- NEA's "Positive Agenda" for NCLB
- More on Our Positions
Our Actions
NEA lobbyists meet frequently with members of Congress to help them see the real impact of NCLB on our schools and to tell them what educators need to improve education for all children. Our most effective lobbyists are NEA members speaking with their Representatives and Senators.
Background
No Child Left Behind is the current incarnation of one of the principal pillars of Pres. Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, which created the Title I federal aid program aimed at reducing achievement gaps between rich and poor and among the races.
Every few years, the law has been amended and reauthorized. No Child Left Behind is the name given to the reauthorization passed in 2001 and signed in January, 2002. But NCLB links its federal dollars to draconian penalties for schools that can not meet a series of one-size-fits-all standards. These penalties especially hurt schools that take on the greatest educational challenges.
Video
Teri Vest
High School English/Social Studies Teacher
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NEA's NCLB Expert Answers Your Questions: PodcastIn his new podcast, Joel Packer Has All the Answers, NEA's top lobbyist on NCLB, dives into his mailbag to answer questions about the law's impact and to offer ideas for improvement.
