No Child Left Behind: The Challenge of Implementation

1. No Child Left Behind: The Challenge of Implementation The New England Conference on Implementing NCLB Dewayne Matthews Education Commission of the States

2. NCLB: What’s the Big Deal? NCLB sets a national goal for student performance (or, more precisely, requires states to set goals). The goal is 100% proficiency, which no large scale education system has ever attained. NCLB holds states, districts, and schools accountable for meeting the goal.

3. NCLB: What’s the Big Deal? Schools must meet interim performance targets beginning immediately. Accountability applies to identified subgroups: low income students, racial and ethnic minorities, limited-English proficient students, and students with disabilities. There are required consequences for failing to meet targets.

4. And for good measure …… NCLB requires states to assure that there is a “highly qualified” teacher in every classroom. NCLB requires states to track “persistently dangerous” schools.

5. It all adds up to ….. An unprecedented level of federal involvement in education. A shift of focus in education decisionmaking from communities and states to the federal government.

6. But it also adds up to ….. An unprecedented promise for the nation’s children. A chance to make the U.S. education system the very best in the world. A chance to create a nation in which every single child, without exception, does very well in school.

8. Concentrate on three main implementation challenges: • Implementation challenge number 1: • Creating a data system that provides the level of detail needed, but in a form that can actually be used to improve student performance.

9. Disaggregation of results Results are disaggregated and reported at the state, LEA and school level by required subgroups Green= Appears to be on track for meeting NCLB requirements Yellow= Appear to be partially on track for meeting NCLB requirements Red = Does not appear to be on track to meet NCLB requirements

10. Implementation challenge number 2: • Creating a system of support for school improvement that can help every school in need of improvement meet AYP expectations.

11. Continuous growth to 100% proficiency State’s definition of Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) is based on expectations for growth in student achievement that is continuous and substantial, such that all students are proficient in reading/language arts and mathematics no later than 2013-2014 Green= Appears to be on track for meeting NCLB requirements Yellow= Appear to be partially on track for meeting NCLB requirements Red = Does not appear to be on track to meet NCLB requirements

12. Accountability for all subgroups All public schools and LEAs are held accountable for the achievement of individual subgroups Green= Appears to be on track for meeting NCLB requirements Yellow= Appear to be partially on track for meeting NCLB requirements Red = Does not appear to be on track to meet NCLB requirements Gray= Data not known

13. Implementation challenge number 3: Figuring out how to meet the requirement for a highly qualified teacher in every classroom, in a way that is doable, affordable, and that contributes to improved student achievement.

14. Highly qualified teacher definition State has adopted definition for "highly qualified teachers" that meets the requirements of No Child Left Behind Green= Appears to be on track for meeting NCLB requirements Yellow= Appear to be partially on track for meeting NCLB requirements Red = Does not appear to be on track to meet NCLB requirements

15. Some final ideas: Find out about your state plan. It details how your state will address NCLB requirements. Learn how it will affect your state and district. Focus decisionmaking on its effect on student achievement. Use the data to find out where the gaps are, and address them. Take a deep breath. Figure out what is worth doing, and use NCLB to help get it done.

16. www.ecs.org