The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (Pub.L. 107-110, 115 Stat. 1425, enacted January 8, 2002), often abbreviated in print as NCLB and sometimes shortened in pronunciation to "nicklebee",[1] is a United States Act of Congress that was originally proposed by President George W. Bush immediately after taking office.[2] The bill, co-sponsored by Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.), who shepherded the bill through the Senate, was passed by congress with overwhelming bipartisan support.[3] was passed in the House of Representatives on May 23, 2001,[4] United States Senate on June 14, 2001[5] and signed into law on January 8, 2002.
NCLB is the latest federal legislation that enacts the theories of standards-based education reform, which is based on the belief that setting high standards and establishing measurable goals can improve individual outcomes in education. The Act requires states to develop assessments in basic skills to be given to all students in certain grades, if those states are to receive federal funding for schools. The Act does not assert a national achievement standard; standards are set by each individual state. The Act requires that the schools distribute personal information of every student enrolled to military recruiters and institutions of higher education, unless the student opts out.[6]
Since enactment, Congress increased federal funding of education, from $42.2 billion in 2001 to $54.4 billion in 2007. No Child Left Behind received a 40.4% increase from $17.4 billion in 2001 to $24.4 billion. The funding for reading quadrupled from $286 million in 2001 to $1.2 billion.[7]
