The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)

The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), enacted in 2001, aimed to improve educational outcomes in the United States by holding schools accountable for student performance. It required standardized testing in reading and math to assess progress, especially for disadvantaged students. Schools that did not meet performance targets faced penalties, while successful ones could receive additional resources. NCLB sought to close achievement gaps and ensure that all children received a quality education, but it faced criticism for its testing focus and rigid accountability measures, leading to its eventual replacement by the Every Student Succeeds Act in 2015.