| As an education reform law, the No Child Left Behind | | | | given the option to pick another public school that |
| Act has been a landmark, leading to much improved | | | | better matches your kids skill or performance level. |
| academic performance by students across the | | | | As a parent, if your child's school is categorized as "in |
| country. A primary aim of this act is to close the wide | | | | need of improvement", you should immediately get in |
| performance gap between minority or disabled | | | | touch with the local school officials to consider your |
| students and their peers. So far, the act has been | | | | child's future and the available options at hand. |
| fairly successful at it. | | | | A school underperforming five years in a row must |
| As per the act, the performance of students is | | | | develop or implement a two year plan to turn the |
| carefully measured, and extra resources and attention | | | | school's performance around. The local school district |
| are devoted to those who might fall behind the curve. | | | | provides extensive technical support to the school as it |
| Under this act, any school that receives federal funds | | | | implements and develops an appropriate improvement |
| must make what is called "Adequate Yearly | | | | plan. |
| Progress", especially in language, reading, and | | | | It is important for parents to take an active part in their |
| mathematics. These benchmarks are clearly defined | | | | child's school life to ensure that their child is not left |
| and are raised gradually with time by each state | | | | behind in school. You must enforce attendance rules, |
| individually according to the needs and capabilities of | | | | supervise your child's homework, and set academic |
| local students. | | | | goals. An active parent can be instrumental in a |
| A school not meeting its annual goals is given extra | | | | school's performance and can help both the child and |
| assistance the next year. If the goals are not met the | | | | the school succeed. A few tips to follow here include: |
| following year either, the school is categorized as "in | | | | 1. Parents should participate in school board meetings. |
| need of improvement" and further resources are | | | | 2. Attend PTA meetings regularly to keep tabs on |
| devoted to it while the students are provided with new | | | | your child's academic performance and resolve any |
| options such as free tuition or after-school classes, or | | | | discipline or behavioral issues. |
| even shifting to a different, better performing school. | | | | 3. If possible, you should volunteer during school hours |
| As a parent, you must be aware of your child's | | | | in extra-curricular activities. |
| school's performance. Every state releases a list of | | | | 4. Proactively encourage other parents to become |
| underperforming school each year. If your child's school | | | | involved in school activities. |
| falls behind the curve, he or she may be eligible for | | | | 5. Arm yourself with knowledge of the No Child Left |
| after-school classes, free tuition, or you may even be | | | | Behind act and how it can benefit your child. |