Questions & Answers


Questions
1)  What is NCLB?
2)  What is the goal of NCLB?
3)  How do we know if students are achieving proficiency?
4)  What are the proficiency levels for New York State?
5)  Why does New York State have school and district report cards?
 
Answers
1)  Q What is NCLB?
A
The NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND (NCLB) ACT of 2001 is a federal law to improve education for all children. It holds schools responsible for results, gives parents greater choices, and promotes teaching methods that work.
2)  Q What is the goal of NCLB?
A
NCLB’s goal is that by 2014, all children should be achieving at their state’s proficiency level in reading, language arts, math, and science.
3)  Q How do we know if students are achieving proficiency?
A
New York State has Learning Standards that describe what every child should know and be able to do in each grade. Each year, students in Grades 3 to 8 take standardized tests in English language arts and mathematics.
4)  Q What are the proficiency levels for New York State?
A
Students are graded on a scale. Students at the bottom of the scale are in Level 1 and at the top of the scale are in level 4.

Level 4 = Meeting the Standards with Distinction
Level 3 = Meeting the Standards
Level 2 = Not Fully Meeting the Standards
Level 1 = Not Meeting the Standards
5)  Q Why does New York State have school and district report cards?
A
The NCLB law requires all states to publish report cards on school districts and schools. The report cards will not only show how well all students are doing, but will also show if there are achievement gaps among different groups of students based on economic background, race and ethnic group membership, English language proficiency, and disabilities. School report cards will also identify schools in need of improvement and show high school graduation rates and teacher qualifications.