Then – 2002
In 2002, President George W. Bush signed into law the No Child Left Behind Act, a sweeping bipartisan reform bill imposing major testing, accountability, teacher quality and school choice requirements on the states. NCLB requires annual testing of students, with test results published by specific sub-groups, including low-income students, major racial groups, students with disabilities and English language learners. Districts were to get all students to proficiency by 2014.
Now
NCLB expired in 2007, but remains in effect until Congress reauthorizes or replaces it. Recognizing that 100% proficiency was unlikely by 2014, the Department of Education provided 41 states with waivers of NCLB’s more onerous provisions.
While not ideal, Duncan asserts that the waivers are working.
Next
With Republicans now in control of Congress, will ESEA finally be reauthorized? If it is, major revisions are likely, including expanded school choice and revised testing provisions.