Focus on the Basics, No Pressure on Peripherals

The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), focuses on the basic skills of reading, writing and math, and places no pressure on schools or students to measure progress in other subject areas.

By focusing only on the basics, NCLB assures that life skills for all students, not just who are college bound or affluent, are at or progressing toward proficiency.

In particular, a key goal of NCLB is to increase literacy among all U.S. students, including those for whom English is a second language, for the disabled, and for those who may have limited access to books at home.

One example of a milestone literacy program under NCLB auspices is Reading First, a voluntary program aimed at ensuring that all young children achieve reading proficiency by the end of 3rd grade.

The federal government helps states and local school districts to implement the Reading First program in three important ways

1. Assistance to establish research-based reading programs for students in kindergarten through third grade

2.  Provide  significantly increased teacher professional development to ensure that all teachers, including special education teachers, have the skills they need to teach these programs effectively.

3. Assistance in preparing classroom teachers to effectively screen, identify and overcome reading barriers facing their students.