What Parents Need to Know NCLB and Title I: What Parents Need to Know NCLB and Title I: What Parents Need to Know

Understanding No Child Left Behind As a parent of a school aged child you have probably heard about No Child Left Behind and would like to understand what it means, especially the benefits it offers to you and your child. It is a somewhat complex law about federal support for education from kindergarten through 12th grade. But the law’s purposes are simple -- to ensure that all children in the United States receive a high quality education and to close the achievement gap that exists between children who typically perform well in school and those who do not

many of whom are from minority, racial and ethnic groups; have disabilities; live in poverty; or do not have English as their first language

Four Broad Principles Holding schools accountable for results Giving states and districts flexibility in how they spend federal money Using scientific research to guide classroom practice Involving parents by giving them information and choices about their child’s education To achieve its broad purposes, No Child Left Behind works according to 4 common sense principles: Holding schools accountable for results; Giving states and districts flexibility in how they spend federal money Using scientific research to guide classroom practice; and Involving parents by giving them information and choices about their child’s education.

In 1965, Congress passed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act which provided, for the first time, significant federal funding for K through 12 education. The first part, or title, of the law is improving the academic achievement of the disadvantaged, often referred to as Title I, which is most of the federal K through 12 education funds.

Federal Government State School District School Schools receive this money through their states and districts. In St. Tammany, qualifying schools receive Title I supplemental funding. School

Accountability No Child Left Behind requires strong accountability that for the first time holds every public school accountable for results. The measure of accountability is Adequate Yearly Progress. Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP, is defined by the state.

To make Adequate Yearly Progress, schools, as well as the groups of students previously mentioned, must meet or make significant progress towards the state set levels of achievement on these tests. Local school report cards are prepared every year by the state. They include information on how students performed on state tests not only for the district as a whole but also in individual schools.

Resources No Child Left Behind gives states and school districts more control and more flexibility to use resources where they are needed most. In this way, they can use this money wisely and work to meet student needs. In St. Tammany, the funds are used for a variety of purposes designed to support student academic achievement in the areas of English/Language Arts and mathematics.

Materials & Technology Classroom Materials & Technology Additional personnel This includes hiring additional personnel to work with students in these areas as well supporting educational technology (such as computers, smart boards, and internet subscriptions to educational software) which enhance student learning. At the end of this short video, your school administrator will tell you about the specifics of the Title I program at your school.

Professional Development Full State Certification Bachelor’s Degree No Child Left Behind provides funding to help educators learn to be better teachers through training and other professional development. The law defines a Highly Qualified Teacher as one with a bachelor’s degree, full state certification and demonstrated competence for each subject taught. Demonstrated Competence Highly Qualified

No Child Left Behind requires the district to inform you of your right to know and how to get information on the qualifications of your child’s teachers.

Parental and Family Involvement No Child Left Behind also requires that districts and schools develop specific parental and family involvement policies that encourage everyone to work together to support student learning

Six Components of Effective Parenting National Network of Partnership Schools In St. Tammany, all Title I schools belong to the National Network of Partnership Schools, or NNPS. As part of this partnership, teams of parents and educators at each school write an annual action plan that encourages enhancing parenting skills, providing home/school communication, providing opportunities to volunteer, enhancing learning at home, participating in decision making, and collaborating with the community. Six Components of Effective Parenting

No Child Left Behind empowers you to ask important questions and make informed decisions about your child’s education by ensuring that schools are held accountable and you get the up-to-date information you need.

Finally be sure to attend parent teacher conferences, parent organization meetings and other events at your child’s school where you can get a lot of information, ideas and help from teachers as well as from other parents.

Have a great school year!

Terry Meyer 985-898-3236 terry.meyer@stpsb.org To learn more about No Child Left Behind and how it affects your child and your school, contact Terry Meyer, Title I Supervisor at 985-898-3360 or email her at terry.meyer@stpsb.org.