Federal Regulations Implementing the Law

To see or download the regulations that guide implementation of the law passed by Congress, including an Appendix containing an "Analysis of Comments and Changes" to the draft regulations initially proposed:

• The final rule for implementing Title I of the ESEA - The Secretary amends the regulations governing the programs administered under Title I, parts A, C, and D of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended (hereinafter referred to as the Title I programs.) These regulations are needed to implement recent changes to Title I of the ESEA made by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB Act).
• Final regulations for the inclusion of students with the most significant cognitive disabilities in Title I assessments - The Secretary amends the regulations governing the programs administered under title I, part A, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). These regulations are needed to implement statutory provisions regarding State, local educational agency (LEA), and school accountability for the academic achievement of students with the most significant cognitive disabilities and are needed to implement changes to title I of the ESEA made by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB Act).

Short Summaries

• A summary for parents - With passage of No Child Left Behind, Congress reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)--the principal federal law affecting education from kindergarten through high school. In amending ESEA, the new law represents a sweeping overhaul of federal efforts to support elementary and secondary education in the United States. It is built on four common-sense pillars: accountability for results; an emphasis on doing what works based on scientific research; expanded parental options; and expanded local control and flexibility.
• Facts Every Parent Should Know About the No Child Left Behind Act - President Bush made a commitment to ensure that all children receive a high quality education so that no child is left behind. And just one year after the President first took office, the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) passed overwhelmingly with support from Republicans and Democrats in Congress. NCLB has led to higher standards and greater accountability throughout the Nation's school systems. This document can also be read in spanish.

More Detailed Information

• The offical No Child Left Behind site at the U.S. Department of Education - No Child Left Behind is designed to change the culture of America's schools by closing the achievement gap, offering more flexibility, giving parents more options, and teaching students based on what works.
• 2002 NCLB Desktop Reference - From the US Department of Education. The NCLB Act puts a special emphasis on determining what educational programs and practices have been clearly demonstrated to be effective through rigorous scientific research. Federal funding will be targeted to support these programs and teaching methods that improve student learning and achievement.
• Nonregulatory guidance issued by the Department of Education to help with implementation of the law - Choose "NCLB Policy Guidance and OMB Circulars" and then "Policy Guidance for Programs Implemented under NCLB." This will lead you to the guidances the Department has issued to date, which are intended to assist stakeholders in implementing NCLB's requirements. To give you an idea of what's currently online: Supplemental Educational Services Guidance (August 2003); Report Cards Guidance (September 2003); LEA and School Improvement Guidance (January 2004); Public School Choice Draft Guidance (February 2004).
• Choose your issue from topics organized A-Z - You can jump to all sorts of resources on NCLB topics, as covered by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Government Policies - Education Issues 2005 - From The Educational Testing Service (ETS). In enacting this landmark legislation, the Congress and the president acted with both passion and pragmatism. There has been bipartisan support to make the law a reality in every classroom in America. Real progress is being made across the nation as we continue to improve teaching and learning for every child. We are on the road to fulfilling the promise of the No Child Left Behind Act, but much work remains.
• Recruiting and retaining high quality teachers in rural areas - In 2003 the Rural School and Community Trust analyzed data from a variety of sources and concluded that many states have a critical need for specific policy attention to rural education. The report draws attention to 13 states, in particular, where this need is deemed most urgent and important.
• The 21st Century Community Learning Centers - The 21st CCLC Program is a component of NCLB, re-authorized under Title IV, Part B, of the Act. The focus of this program is to provide expanded academic enrichment opportunities for children attending low performing schools. Tutorial services and academic enrichment activities are provided, as well as youth development activities, drug and violence prevention programs, technology education programs, art, music and recreation programs, counseling and character education. You can also search the 21st CCLC Grantees Database.

What's Title I?

Title I provides billions of dollars in financial assistance to schools educating low-income students. Currently, about half (55 percent) of public schools receive funds under Title I. A part of ESEA and now amended by NCLB, Title I's official name is "Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged." Here are some links to information about this very important part of the legislation.

• Is my school a Title I school? - A Title I school receives government funding and must follow NCLB requirements. Find out if your school is a Title I school. At the link above, enter your school's name and address, and search. The results will include "School Characteristics," one of which will be "Title I School" yes or no.

NCLB and Children with Special Needs

How does NCLB affect children with special needs? This is an area of great concern to the disability community. The following resources will help you find out more about what the NCLB means for children with disabilities and the school systems who educate them:

• A Parent's Guide to No Child Left Behind - No Child Left Behind (NCLB) covers all states, school districts, and schools that accept Title 1 federal grants. Title 1 grants provide funding for remedial education programs for poor and disadvantaged children in public schools, and in some private programs. NCLB applies differently to Title 1 schools than to schools that do not receive Title 1 grants. However, one way or another, this law covers all public schools in all states.
• No Child Left Behind Act of 2001: Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act - The Council for Exceptional Children has engaged in a detailed review of the information available on the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (P.L. 107-110). Because of the importance of this legislation, we have prepared this comprehensive set of resources concerning the law, and its implications for the special education field.
• Assessing students with disabilities under IDEA and NCLB - Since the 1997 reauthorization of IDEA, the nation's main special education law, much has changed in how the United States holds schools accountable. As IDEA undergoes its next reauthorization this year, the implications of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) will be an important consideration.

Training Materials

Slides from the Student Achievement and School Accountability Conference of the US Department of Education

• State Accountability Systems
• Accountability and Annual Yearly Progress
• Strategies for Making Adequate Yearly Progress, Using Curriculum Based-Measurement for Progress Monitoring
• Evidence-Based Education
• Providing Title I Services to Eligible Private School Children

How's Your State Doing?

• Who's Who in your state - Use the map to choose a state and find out who to contact about NCLB, education matters in general, and disability-related issues (hey! they link to NICHCY, so you'll end up back here!). Also find state profiles presenting key data about each state's student and school population and its testing history and results under National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).
• Try the School Information Partnership - Here, you can find out the school, district, and state information required to be publicly reported under NCLB. State snapshots are also available.
• The School Evaluation Services (SES) database - Use Standard and Poor's (S&P) database to view academic, financial, and socioeconomic indicators, benchmark comparisons and trends. Also read S&P’s written reports on your district’s strengths and challenges.
• Reflections on implementation: Two years and counting - This October 2003 InfoBrief from the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) takes a national look at our progress under NCLB.

Keeping Up with NCLB

• Webcasts for parents - The Department of Education offers Education News Parents Can Use, a Web cast series about ways to ensure children's educational success. Learn more about the program, view previous Webcasts, see what's on the schedule for this year.
• Sign up for a Title I Part A listserv - The titleilocals listserv is a free service offered by OESE's Student Achievement and School Accountability Programs. The information that subscribers to the "LEAtitleIdirector" listserv receive is intended to help them administer their programs and learn about new information regarding Title I Part A. And a wealth of information about Title 1 is available for a few $$. See above, under "What's Title I?" for two Title 1 services that keep administrators informed: the Title I Monitor and the Title I Report.
• Want the latest in education news - For a fee, Education Week provides articles and information on NCLB.

Resources

• Resources for Special Education Teachers
• Advocacy (Board Certification for Advocacy in Special Education) BCASE
• Board Certification in Special Education
• Inclusion - Board Certification in Inclusion in Special Education (BCISE) Program
• Paraprofessional Skills Preparation Program - PSPP
• Professional Development Program (PDP) Free to NASET Members
• Courses - Professional Development Courses (Free With Membership)
• Forms, Tables, Checklists, and Procedures for Special Education Teachers
• Video and Power Point Library
• IEP Development
• Exceptional Students and Disability Information
• Special Education and the Law
  • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
  • Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
  • Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
  • Goals 2000: Educate America Act
  • Government Resources
  • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004)
  • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1997 (IDEA 97)
  • Landmark Cases in Special Education
  • No Child Left Behind (NCLB)
  • Perkins Vocational Education Act
  • Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act
  • State Education Departments
  • Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act
  • United States Department of Education

  Resources

  • Resources for Special Education Teachers
  • Advocacy (Board Certification for Advocacy in Special Education) BCASE
  • Board Certification in Special Education
  • Inclusion - Board Certification in Inclusion in Special Education (BCISE) Program
  • Paraprofessional Skills Preparation Program - PSPP
  • Professional Development Program (PDP) Free to NASET Members
  • Courses - Professional Development Courses (Free With Membership)
  • Forms, Tables, Checklists, and Procedures for Special Education Teachers
  • Video and Power Point Library
  • IEP Development
  • Exceptional Students and Disability Information
  • Special Education and the Law
    • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
    • Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
    • Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
    • Goals 2000: Educate America Act
    • Government Resources
    • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004)
    • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1997 (IDEA 97)
    • Landmark Cases in Special Education
    • No Child Left Behind (NCLB)
    • Perkins Vocational Education Act
    • Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act
    • State Education Departments
    • Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act
    • United States Department of Education