The Pulliam Group specializes in NCLB Compliant Programs - "Your one STOP SHOP!"

The goal of No Child Left Behind, is to create the best educational opportunities for our nation's children and to ensure that they have every opportunity to succeed.

Annual testing of all public school students reading and math, grades 3-8 and high school by 2005-06 school year.

• States design and implement annual tests in reading and math.
• Feds provide states with annual funding to design and implement tests ($387 million appropriated for FY 2002).

Annual report cards on school performance for parents, voters, and taxpayers.

Ensuring that every child reads by the 3rd grade.

• Fed funding for reading instruction is tripled ($300 million last year to $900 million this year), along with a new emphasis on using scientifically based instructional materials.

A highly qualified teacher in every public school classroom by 2005.

• 35% increase in Fed funds to help states and local schools train, recruit and retain high quality teachers.

Require each state to establish its own standards in the core content areas of reading, math and science.

AYP- Adequate yearly progress: Goal-100% proficiency for all students in 12 years.

• Provide separate measurable objectives for each child and for specific groups (disadvantaged, racial/ethnic, LEP, etc.)
• If school fails to make AYP: parents, voters will know when schools are not performing (notification; publicity); failing schools will receive help ($?); students in chronically failing schools have escape routes (option to transfer to another school in district; schools that continue to fail-parents have ability to receive supplemental services for students); schools that continue to fail after receiving help may be reformed by the state.

READING FIRST:
Five essential components in reading instruction- phonemic awareness; phonics; vocabulary, comprehension.
Components:

• Focus on high quality, comprehensive K-3 reading instruction for all children.
• By basing instructional decisions on a “what works” basis.
• By putting the solid research base on reading into the hands of teacher.

HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS

• Beginning with first day of 2002-2003 school year, new teachers hired to teach in Title 1 supported programs must be highly qualified.
• States must have plan for achieving annual increases in the percentage of highly qualified teachers, to ensure that all teachers of core academic subjects are highly qualified by 2005-06.
• Highly qualified: Elementary: holds a bachelors degree, has demonstrated mastery by passing a rigorous test in reading, writing, math and other areas of the curriculum; Middle or High School: holds a bachelors degree, has demonstrated competency in subject area taught by passing a rigorous state test, or through completion of an academic major, graduate degree or comparable coursework.

FLEXIBILITY

• Local school districts significant (?) new flexibility and decision making authority in the use of federal education funds.
• Local officials can use fed funds to help address the unique needs of students rather than following the Washington rules (up to 50% of their non-Title 1 funds can be used ex. if a local district prefers to use 50% of its Fed tech money to recruit teachers it can do so)
• 150 local districts nationwide can participate in pilot program to spend 100% of Title 1 dollars on pilot program.

FUNDING

• Title 1 $ increased from 8.6 billion to 10.4 billion in fy2003.
• 35% increase in teacher quality aid. Increased funding for reading programs.
• Provided support for 1,800 new and existing charter schools.
• Increased IDEA funding by 1.3 billion.

To visit the official NCLB site click here.