This booklet by NH State PIRC offers useful guidance for parents. Download the document by clicking this link (PDF), or view a PDF Booklet online by clicking on the image above.
NCLB FAQ's
NCLB can present a complex maze of issues and options for parents to consider. Our handy FAQ section gives answers to the more common questions around School Choice, Parental Options, and Supplemental Educational Services. Click here to go to the FAQs page.
NH Department of Education Goes
Beyond NCLB with "Follow the Child"
NH has begun taking a more comprehensive approach than required by NCLB to assess student academic improvement by encouraging schools to track each student’s progress year to year, not only academically but physically, socially, and personally. This approach is called "Follow the Child." This way, teachers and school administrators can gain a better understanding of each child’s behavior and performance, and develop strategies aimed to help each individual. "Follow the Child" is being implemented in various forms in a numgber of schools in NH. For more information, call your school or visit this NH Dept. of Education web page or download the Follow the Child Brochure (PDF).
Understanding "Title I"
Title I is a federal aide program that provides extra education services for children who are behind in school. Schools can apply for Title I funds based on the number of students who receive free and reduced school lunch. There are two types of Title I funding:
1) School-wide programs Schools which have over 40% of students with free and reduced school lunch can apply to be a school-wide Title I school. School-wide Title I funding is where all students in the school benefit from the monies.
2) Targeted Assistance program — Schools with less than 40% of students with free and reduced school lunch (and, optionally, some schools with over 40%) can choose to create a “targeted” program at the school to provide services only for students who are academically behind (as opposed to having the monies benefit all students).
The Title I law, Section 1118, also establishes strong guidelines for the relationship between schools and parents.Read more..
The 3 Main Areas
of NCLB
1. School Accountability
NCLB requires every state to set high standards for student academic achievement and to increase those standards every year. To measure student progress, NH schools must test children in Math, English,
Science and Language Arts in grades 3 through 8 and once in high school. Each school must then combine student test scores and show “Adequate Yearly Progress” (AYP) towards state-determined targets for various populations (regular and special education students, for example), for each subject tested. Read more...
2. School Choice
This section of the law requires schools, once they fail to make "adequate yearly progress" for 2 or more years in a row, to offer parents the choice to send their child to another school. Priority is given to the lowest-achieving, low-income students. The school district must pay for or provide transportation to the new school. Read more...
3. Supplemental Educational Services
After the third consecutive year of missing AYP, schools must offer students free tutoring or other extra academic help in reading, writing, and/or mathematics. This extra help must be given outside the regular school day – before /after school, weekends, or summertime. Eligible students must be enrolled in a Title I school and qualify for the free or reduced-price lunch program. Your school district should send you a letter about how and where to sign up with SES providers. Read more...
The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law was enacted by the federal
government because in many
parts of the country children
were
being “left behind” educationally.
There were schools
without
books, without libraries, and even some
without teachers.
NCLB is a commitment to ensuring all children receive a quality education. In NH, it is an opportunity to make a good educational system even stronger.
NCLB is not a new law. It is the name given to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 when it was reauthorized in 2001. However, new elements were added in 2001. The law now focuses on education reform and asks schools to describe their successes in terms of student achievement. It is based on the philosophy that all children can learn and that it is the responsibility of parents and educators to find the best ways to help them.
The purpose of NCLB is to ensure all children receive a high quality education. In this country there are many children who are doing well but there are those who are struggling to learn. NCLB is structured to help close the achievement gaps between those who typically do well and those who do not.
The law addresses public education for students in grades K-12. It is lengthy and some sometimes complicated to understand. The key parts of the law address the following topics:
Accountability
School Improvement
Parental involvement
Title I Schools and Funding
New options and choices for parents
Quality instruction
Teacher quality
Flexibility of funding
To learn more about these topics, please read the articles in this section of the web site.
Please come back often as this section is under construction and will be updated regularly.
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS STATEWIDE
The Hidden Power of
NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND
Sometimes the best way to learn about NCLB is to join a group of interested parents and to ask questions of a knowledgeable presenter. This workshop provides a basic overview of the education law, school accountability,
report cards (based on the NECAP school testing), school choice, and
supplemental educational services. But most importantly, it gives you as a parent the opportunity to ask questions and to learn from the questions and experiences of other parents. It also provides essential guidance on how to positively engage with your school's efforts to improve education for every child.
PIRC Workshops are typically organized by parent-teacher groups such as your local PTA or PTO, or by the school itself. Please visit the calendar page on this site, call us to find out about any upcoming NCLB workshops, or call your local parent-teacher group and request that they sponsor one. The cost is free, and the knowledge you will gain is priceless.
Free Technical Assistance for Schools
NH State PIRC is equipped to support schools and
school districts in meeting their goals regarding
the Parental Involvement provisions of NCLB and
Title I. Specifically, we can help schools with the
process of reviewing, improving, planning,
implementing and evaluating the following key
provisions:
Written Parent Involvement Policy
Policy Involvement Meetings for Parents
The School-Parent Compact
Parent-School communication strategies
School Visitation Policy
Training opportunities for parents around
literacy and school achievement
We can also help your school, district,
or PTA/PTO:
Strengthen Parent Involvement in school
decision making and student learning
Explain parent options under NCLB in
parent-friendly language
Develop parent-friendly language for
communicating grade-level standards
Develop partnerships among schools, parents, and local businesses and community organizations
Provide full opportunities for the participation of parents with limited English proficiency and parents of students with disabilities
For more information, please download our Technical Assistance Brochure (3MB PDF) or call (603) 848-5665 to discuss your school's needs.
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS STATEWIDE
Free Technical Assistance for Schools
