What does No Child Left Behind mean to me?
On January 8, 2002, President Bush signed into law the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). The purpose of this law is to help parents and schools support all children in their learning. NCLB gives you the right to access the information needed to make the best choices and education decisions for your children.

Why do we have NCLB?
The No Child Left Behind Act includes the following goals that all students will:
1. Meet grade level learning expectations in reading, writing, and math by the 2013-2014 school year.
2. Know and be able to communicate in English.
3. Graduate from high school.
4. Learn in safe and drug free environments.
5. Have qualified teachers in every grade.

Who uses NCLB?
1. Parents use the NCLB law to understand the choices they can make for their children’s education and how they can help their children.
2. Schools and districts use the NCLB law to improve instruction for all students.
3. States use the NCLB law to improve support for all school districts.

How can I use NCLB?
The No Child Left Behind Act recognizes and expands the important role parents have in the education of their children. In fact, parents are mentioned over 240 times in the law! No Child Left Behind identifies specific roles for parents at school, at home, and in decision making for their children.

At school you are encouraged to communicate with teachers, participate in policy-making and school improvement efforts, and volunteer at school.

At home your role is most critical. Research shows that what you do at home is a big factor in how well your children do at school. All parents have great impact on their children’s success at school.

Things you can do at home:

Get your children to school on time.

Talk with your children about school.

Provide opportunities for your children to read or be read to.

Give your children a quiet place to do their homework.

Encourage learning at home and in the community.

Parents whose children attend schools that have been identified in need of improvement may have an additional role in their children’s education. You may have the opportunity to:

Make decisions about the school your children attend.

Request free tutoring for your children.

Become involved in new ways to help your children’s school improve.

Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
NCLB in the State of Alaska

US Department of Education
Overview of the No Child Left Behind Act
Executive Summary