The act, approved by Congress and signed by
President Bush on Jan. 8, 2002, is a reauthorization of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). It is the most comprehensive piece
of federal legislation since the original 1965 ESEA, which targeted
Title I monies to the nation’s low-wealth school districts and
children. The major focus of the act is to provide all children with a
fair, equal and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality
education.
The Act requires states:
- Provide public school choice and supplemental services
for students in failing schools as early as fall 2002.
- Integrate scientifically-based reaching research into
comprehensive reading instruction for young children.
- Set and monitor adequate yearly progress, based on
baseline 2001-02 data.
- Issue annual report cards on school performance and
statewide test results by 2002-03.
- Implement annual, standards-based assessments in reading
and math for grades 3-8 by 2005-06.
- Assure that all classes are taught by a qualified
teacher by 2005-06.
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