The No Child Left Behind Act

The No Child Left Behind Act, enacted in 2001, aimed to improve educational quality in the United States by enforcing standards and accountability in schools. It required states to develop standardized tests for students in grades 3-8 and report their performance, particularly focusing on disadvantaged groups. Schools that failed to meet performance targets faced consequences, such as loss of funding. The law intended to ensure all children received a quality education, but it also faced criticism for promoting teaching to the test and not addressing broader issues affecting student success. It was replaced by the Every Student Succeeds Act in 2015.