No Child Left Behind (NCLB)
NCLB began in its earliest rendition as a form of assistance through The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965. ESEA was transformed by a few major publications such as A Nation at Risk, The National Education Summit, Goals 2000, and through the accountability form of the Reauthorization of NCLB. The educational law has been transformed many times as more emphasis is placed on all students becoming proficient in reading and math. No Child Left Behind focuses on a few major components: Accountability (AYP), highly qualified teachers, and using researched based materials for instruction. NCLB is backed by federal funds that are distributed through what is know as Title money. ("Texas education agency," 2012)
No Child Left Behind's accountability component requires school districts to provide parents with the schools performance annual report card. This allows parents to make decisions about the quality of education provided by their school. Districts will compare disaggregated data according to race, socioeconomic status, and gender. Parents have greater flexibility in their child's education due to the guidelines that allow parents with children in failing schools enroll thier child in a better performing school. (Rosenberg, Westling & McLeskey, 2008)