On January
8, 2002, President Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act
into law. He offered this advice to parents:
"We
know that every child can learn. Now is the time to ensure that every
child does learn."
"As
parents, you are your children's first teachers and their strongest
advocates. You have a critical role to play - both in how you
raise your children and in how you work for meaningful and accurate
accountability in their schools."
"Too
many children are segregated in schools without standards, shuffled
from grade to grade . . . This is discrimination, pure and simple.
"
|
Some
say it is unfair to hold disadvantaged children to rigorous
standards. I say it is discrimination to require anything less.
It is the soft bigotry of low expectations."
-- President George W. Bush
|
Secretary
of Education Rod Paige said,
"No one cares more about your child's future than you do, and
no one is better positioned to hold schools accountable for performance
than you are."
"You have a right to know whether your child is really
learning at school . . . If your child is not making adequate progress
in school, you can and must ask why. A good teacher will be happy
to answer your questions. Do your part and ask."
From
Wrightslaw
No Child Left Behind is a comprehensive plan to reform schools,
change school
culture, empower parents, and improve education for all children.
Does This Law Apply to Children with
Disabilities?
Yes.
No Child Left Behind applies to all children who attend public
schools - including kids with disabilities, kids with behavior problems,
and other kids who have traditionally been written off - minorities,
immigrants, and English as Second Language (ESL) youngsters.
No Child Left Behind requires annual
testing of reading and math skills. The law may make it easier
for parents to get annual objective testing of your child's skills
- a battleground for many parents of kids with disabilities.
Parent's Guide to No Child Left Behind
In A
Parent's Guide to No Child Left Behind, you learn about new
requirements for teachers and paraprofessionals, school report cards,
annual testing of math and reading skills. You also learn about new
options for parents including transfers from failing schools and free
supplemental services - tutoring, after-school programs and summer
school.
Download, print and distribute the 4 page printer-friendly version
of A
Parent's Guide to No Child Left Behind.
Visit our No
Child Left Behind page for articles, resources, fact sheets,
and more.
