No Child Left Behind Act

Supporters of the No Child Left Behind Act claim the legislation encourages accountability in public schools, offers parents greater educational options for their children, and helps close the achievement gap between minority and white students. The No Child Left Behind Act aims to achieve these goals through federally mandated standardized testing.

In addition, it is argued that local government had failed students, necessitating federal intervention to remedy issues like teachers teaching outside their areas of expertise, and complacency in the face of continually failing schools.

Some local governments, notably New York State, have voiced support for the No Child Left Behind provisions, arguing that local standards had failed to provide adequate oversight over special education, and that the No Child Left Behind Act would allow longitudinal data to be more effectively used to monitor adequate yearly progress.

Source: DOE