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Parents Involved In Education
Spring 2007

No Child Left Behind
The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001 is the new federal law to improve education. This law requires each state to set higher standards for what children should know and be able to do in grades 3-8. States and school districts will then work toward achieving those standards for all students over the next 12 years.

schoolhouse

Did You Know?:

  • About 40% of U.S. students cannot read at a basic level

  • In NH, 25% of 3rd graders are not reading at a basic level
  • Research shows that children who read well in the early grades are more successful in later years.

What About NH?
Although the law was created in D.C., each state has a lot of room to be creative in the way they make these changes. The NH Department of Education is working with State Representatives, PTA’s, School Boards, local schools and parents on how to make this law work for New Hampshire. Our state is working hard to create grade level standards so that new assessment tests can be developed.

The NH Dept. of Ed. is designing a yearly measure of progress for schools. This would be the minimum level of academic improvement that schools and districts must make each year toward the state standards.

The NH Dept. of Education is committed to putting what is good for the children in our state first

The Cornerstones of the Law
Schools that can improve student achievement will be rewarded. Low performing schools that don’t improve will receive assistance. If they still are not able to improve over a 3 year period, there will be a process for change and correction.

Federal dollars will be spent on research based programs that have a proven track record.

States and local school districts will have more choices in the way they can use education dollars.

Parents will have more information about the quality of their child’s education. Parents of students in low performing schools that do not improve after 2 years may be given some alternate choices.
computer More on this subject:
www.nochildleftbehind.gov
www.pfie.ed.gov

Differences You May Notice:

changes

  • More help for students to read well by grade 3

  • Greater opportunities for parents to be involved

  • Information about teacher qualifications

  • Better communication from school concerning test results

  • By 2005 reading & math testing in grades 3 to 8, and one year in high school

Report Cards on Schools
School districts must prepare annual reports showing the progress of each school toward meeting the standards. This will help educators understand what is working well and what is not. Report cards should be easy to understand and written in languages parents know. They must be provided to all parents and made available to the public. Parents and community members can use the report cards to work with the school and district to improve the quality of education.

NCLB is an opportunity to make a good education system better. Every child can learn. As parents and educators, our goal is to find the best way to help them.


 

Parents are important to a child’s success in school because they are their child’s first and most influential teacher. Parent reading to child

For this reason, schools are asking parents to be partners in their child’s education. Under NCLB, Schools that receive Title I funding must have a written Parental Involvement Policy that helps parents get involved.

Title I is a Federal Aid program that provides extra educational services for children who are behind in school. Schools can apply for Title I funds based on the number of their students who are economically disadvantaged.

Schools must include parents in developing and updating the Parent Involvement Policy. All parents who have children in a Title I school or program will receive a copy of the policy, and it should be easy for parents to understand.

Schools and parents must develop an action plan based on the Parent Involvement Policy. This is called a School-Parent Compact. It describes the schools responsibility to provide quality education and outlines ways parents can support their child’s education at home. It stresses the importance of ongoing communication between parents and teachers and explains a process for that to happen.

Every school receiving Title I money must have a compact that is developed jointly with parents. Each schools compact will look different. All parents of students in a Title I school should be given a copy of the compact and it should be discussed during parent/teacher conferences at least one time per year.

For ideas and tips on how parents and schools can build better partnerships check out National Network of Partnership Schools online at: www.partnershipschools.org

Ideas

Teacher Qualifications Teacher Qualifications

Research shows that what teachers know and how they convey that knowledge is directly tied to student achievement. NCLB calls for each state to have highly qualified teachers in every classroom by the 2005-2006 school year. The new law states that all public school teachers who teach a core academic subject must have a bachelor’s degree and have a thorough knowledge of their subject area. The NH Dept. of Education is evaluating its teacher certification process and professional development requirements to ensure that our teachers meet these requirements. Parents of children in Title I schools can get information about individual teacher qualifications from their child’s school.

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1-800-947-7005

Next Issue
Reading First & School Improvement

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