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The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) was signed into law by President Bush in January of 2002 and reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). NCLB challenges states, school districts and schools to intensify their efforts to improve the academic achievement of public school students considered at risk for school failure. Its new provisions for assessment and accountability are designed to focus increased levels of attention on under-performing groups of students and to close the achievement gap between them and their peers. No Child Left Behind puts special emphasis on determining what educational programs and practices have been proven effective through rigorous scientific research. Federal funding is targeted to support these programs and teaching methods that work to improve student learning and achievement. NCLB supports scientifically-based reading instruction programs in the early grades under the Reading First program and in preschool under the Early Reading First program. Funds are available to help local programs provide research-based instruction and help teachers strengthen current skills and gain new ones in effective reading instructional techniques. NCLB incorporates large programs and funding streams that states and school districts provide for K-12 students. Key NCLB programs that target young children include: Title I — This program supports initiatives in schools and school districts to improve the learning of children from low-income families. Federal Title I funds go to states based on the number of children from low-income families in each school district. Title I funds can be used for instructional activities, counseling, parental involvement, and program improvement. In return, schools, school districts and states must meet accountability requirements for raising student performance. Over 14,000 of the 15,000 school districts in the nation accept Title I funds and conduct Title I programming. Approximately 260,000 students within the program are preschoolers. Early Reading First —This grant program makes competitive 6-year awards to schools and other local grantees to support early language, literacy, and pre-reading development of preschool-age children, particularly those from low-income families. Recipients use instructional strategies and professional development drawn from scientifically-based reading research to help young children to attain the fundamental knowledge and skills they will need for optimal reading development in kindergarten and beyond. For more information contact: For more on NCLB, go to Making NCLB Work for Children Who Struggle to Learn: A Parent's Guide For additional information about early childhood policy and programs, go to the Readings and Resources section. |