What Is The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)?
NCLB was signed into law on January8, 2002 and designed to give all students - including those with disabilities - the opportunity to have an appropriate, high-quality education. It does this by creating a state-by-state accountability system. For students with disabilities, the law requires that their academic progress be measured and reported. As a result, parents of children with disabilities can learn how their children, as a category of students, are achieving compared to their non-disabled peers. While NCLB has many challenges, it has been positive for students with disabilities because children whose progress is measured get taught.
Is School Performance Measured?
Yes. Under No Child Left Behind (NCLB), schools and school districts are measured on whether the students meet performance benchmarks in math, reading and attendance for grades 3-8 and math, English and graduation rate for high schools. Schools that do not meet the achievement standards for two years are deemed high priority.
Does NCLB Hold TN Schools Accountable?
Yes, the Division of Accountability encompasses school approval, accreditation, School and School System Report Cards, Exemplary Educator and High Performing Schools, School Improvement Planning, and performance monitoring functions.
Their mission is to improve the effectiveness of Tennessee’s schools and school systems. Their vision is to ensure that no child is left behind and to ensure that every child in Tennessee receives an adequate education.
Goals are:
- To assist educators in understanding the use of student performance data for school improvement
- To provide an inclusive reporting document for each school and school system which details disaggregated student performance data
- To provide systematic technical assistance, including a collaborative approach to school improvement
- To link school improvement teams from Regional Offices to other Departmental initiatives in a service delivery model to High Priority Schools
- To identify High Priority Schools based on student performance data
- To provide technical assistance through the use of the Exemplary Educator Program and departmental resources for identified High Priority Schools
- To develop a systemic process for measuring success in implementing improvement in Low Performing Schools
- To provide a collaborative approach in distributing/providing federal and state resources for school improvement
- To provide a variety of grant opportunities for innovation in Tennessee schools
- To improve student performance in all Tennessee schools
- To act as a catalyst in the Department of Education to bring a focus on school improvement initiatives
Tennessee Department of Education Consolidated State Application
Accountability Workbook - Revised January 15, 2009
TN Accountability Chart
Accountability, Teaching and Learning Directory
School & LEA Improvement