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NCLB in California
Putting Closing Achievement Gaps at the Top of the Nation's Agenda
Before the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), California had taken some good first steps toward improving education for all children. In some ways, like in drafting rigorous content standards for what all children must learn, California led the pack nationwide. NCLB, the 2001 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Schools Education Act (ESEA), pushes California and the nation even further.
The stated purpose of NCLB is to “close the achievement gap between high- and low-performing children, especially the achievement gaps between minority and non-minority students, and between disadvantaged children and their more advantaged peers. No, NCLB isn’t perfect. No law ever is. But for the first time, closing gaps tops the nation’s agenda. That’s hugely important. And NCLB is a great complement for the reforms already in place in California.
On this page, we provide information about NCLB and links to important websites that can help you understand more about how this important law can help California and the nation.
NCLB Information and Presentations
Written testimony of Russlynn Ali, director of the Education Trust-West, on the reauthorization of NCLB
Provided to the California Department of Education on January 2, 2007, this testimony covers the topics of state and federal accountability systems and the teacher quality provisions of No Child Left Behind, due for reauthorization by Congress this year.
Too Little Thought, Too Little Action:
California's Teacher Equity Plan Falls Short
This report, released September 13, 2006, provides an indepth anaylsis of California's plan--or lack thereof--to address teacher quality distribution among poor and minority students, as required by NCLB
Testimony before the Commission on No Child Left Behind
At the first public hearing of the Commission on No Child Left Behind on the Impact of the No Child Left Behind Act on Teacher Quality, Recruitment, Retention, and Distribution (April 11, 2006), EdTrust--West Director Russlynn Ali provided recommendations on how NCLB must be better used to ensure that all students have access to the high quality instruction they need.
Why We Need No Child Left Behind in California
This PowerPoint presentation provides an overview of the important elements of NCLB and why they are important for California.
API vs. AYP in California: State API Results Show Gains, but Cannot Show Narrowing of the Achievement Gap
This press statement provides an analysis of the most recent API and AYP results for California and explains why AYP is such an important measure of how well California's schools are serving its poor, minority and English Learner students.
AYP + API: Why the New Federal Measure is a Crucial Complement to California's Accountability System
This PDF report provides an overview of how the federal Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) measure fits with California's own Academic Performance Index (API). It answers frequently asked questions about how Adequate Yearly Progress works in California and makes the case that both systems are useful in California's quest to reach it's goals for student achievement.
EdTrust-West Testimony Before the State Board of Education
In testimony before the California State Board of Education on June 11, 2003, EdTrust--West Director Russlynn Ali pushed the State to demand only the best trained teachers for all children under the "highly-qualified teacher" provisions of NCLB.
ABCs of AYP
This report by the Education Trust explains the basics about NCLB's accountability measure, Adequate Yearly Progress.
AYP slideshow
This slideshow provides some detail about how AYP works.
Safe Harbor Simulator
This is an easy-to-imitate calculation for how a school can make AYP under NCLB's Safe Harbor provision even if it doesn't make its targets for all subgroups.
ESEA: Myths versus Realities.
This slideshow provides some answers to commonly asked questions about the new No Child Left Behind Act.
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), “No Child Left Behind” -- Slideshow Overview for K-16 Leaders (preliminary to rule making process) March, 2002
Empowering Parents and Communities to Use NCLB
The Education Trust has created quick, easy to use guides on NCLB that parents and communities can understand and use. Accompanying the User Guides are one-page fact sheets provide vital information on key provisions of NCLB and California supplements created by EdTrust--West that drill it down to the State level.
Click Here to view the NCLB User Guides, Fact Sheets and California Supplement.
NCLB-Related Links
To find out more about NCLB in California: California Department of Education.
To learn more about the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
(CA State and Local Policy Page Home)
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