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No Child Left Behind Act of 2001

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In 2001, Congress reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act under a new name: No Child Left Behind (NCLB). NCLB established a number of new requirements for public schools, including changes to annual testing, teacher qualifications, and the allocation of federal funds. Today, RAND research continues to explore the impact of this legislation, inform public debate, and provide clear recommendations for the future.

Multimedia
Reauthorizing ESEA: Key Issues and Federal Oversight Are Up for Debate
In this February 2015 Congressional Briefing, education experts at RAND discuss the limitations of current accountability policies and how a reauthorized Elementary and Secondary Education Act could promote more effective policies.
Feb 18, 2015
Commentary
Reauthorizing ESEA: What We Know and Where We Should Go with School Improvement
Federal policy should ensure that school improvement is a priority, that schools adopt proven reforms that fit the school context, and that schools and their districts are held accountable when federal resources are used for school improvement.
Feb 11, 2015

Explore No Child Left Behind Act of 2001

Journal Article
Fifty Ways to Leave a Child Behind: Idiosyncrasies and Discrepancies in States' Implementation of NCLB
Using a data set we constructed, this paper is the first national study examining which schools failed during the early years of NCLB and which performance targets they failed to meet.
Nov 24, 2015
Blog
The 2015 Summer Reading List for Congress
With Capitol Hill slowing for August recess, this list of must-read research and commentaries will help ensure that policymakers are ready to dive right back in this fall.
Aug 5, 2015
Journal Article
The Effect of Attending Full-Day Kindergarten on English Learner Students
A significant and growing English learner (EL) population attends public schools in the United States.
Jul 22, 2015
Commentary
Reauthorizing ESEA: Four Recommendations to Improve Teaching Effectiveness
Policies aimed at boosting teaching effectiveness are a key component of a strong ESEA reauthorization. Addressing discrepancies in teacher quality helps teachers improve, retains effective teachers, and makes the teaching profession an attractive option for those contemplating careers.
Feb 3, 2015
Commentary
Recommendations for ESEA Reauthorization That Support Innovation
As lawmakers consider the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, it is critical that in meeting their objectives they do not create unnecessary obstacles to the productive innovations being explored at schools, such as personalized learning.
Jan 27, 2015
Commentary
Reauthorizing ESEA: Four Recommendations to Make Testing Work
Will Congress be able to reauthorize ESEA in 2015? Success will depend on legislators clearing several hurdles, such as decisions regarding teacher quality, school improvement, and charter schools. And at the center of the debate remains the issue of federal requirements for testing.
Jan 21, 2015
Commentary
Flexibility Is Key in Administration's Call for Teacher Equity Plans
Thirteen years of research have clarified that metrics like teacher experience and licensure reveal little about teachers' impact on student learning. The focus should be on disadvantaged students' access to effective teachers.
Aug 22, 2014
Commentary
Are High-Stakes Tests Counterproductive?
If we want testing to exert beneficial effects on teaching and learning, we need to advocate for higher-quality tests and for evaluation and accountability systems that use multiple measures and do not rely exclusively on test scores, write Laura Hamilton and Gabriella C. Gonzalez.
Apr 22, 2013
Commentary
Taking Stock on the Anniversary of 'No Child Left Behind'
While “No Child Left Behind” aims to improve schools, Congress can improve the law. Flexibility and capacity are crucial, particularly for struggling schools, writes Brian Stecher.
Jan 10, 2013
Commentary
Five Ways to Improve 'No Child Left Behind'
The bill's eleventh anniversary presents an opportunity to consider what the evidence tells us about how to make NCLB more effective.
Jan 8, 2013
Multimedia
Conference Call on 11th Anniversary of 'No Child Left Behind' Act and Initiatives Undertaken by States
RAND Education experts Darleen Opfer, Brian Stecher and Laura Hamilton conducted a media conference call on Friday, Jan. 4, 2012 to discuss the 11th anniversary of the signing of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 2001, or
Jan 4, 2013
Multimedia
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act: Maintaining Accountability and Nurturing Innovation Through a Reauthorized ESEA
In this May 2012 briefing, RAND experts offer recommendations on ways to strengthen the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in light of a renewed push in Congress for reauthorization.
May 22, 2012
Multimedia
No Child Left Behind: Ten Years Later
Laura Hamilton discusses what has been learned in the ten years since the No Child Left Behind Act was signed into law in January 2002, including recommendations for addressing key limitations as Congress considers reauthorization.
Jan 5, 2012
Journal Article
Measuring Teaching Quality Using Student Achievement Tests: Lessons from Educators' Responses to No Child Left Behind
In this timely collection, leading education scholars challenge market-based models of school improvement and argue that merely holding teachers accountable for scores on end-of-the-year exams will not lead to educational improvement.
Dec 1, 2011
Multimedia
What We Know About Measuring School Performance
At this June 2011 RAND Policy Circle event in Pittsburgh, a selection of RAND's top experts in education policy shared fresh, evidence-based perspectives on measuring school performance.
Jun 16, 2011
Report
Federal and State Roles and Capacity for Improving Schools
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) could be reauthorized in 2011, and there is much discussion about the most-effective way to balance federal and state responsibilities for improving schools and how best to frame federal policy to promote this goal.
May 16, 2011
Research Brief
How Federal Education Policy Under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act Can Support States in School Improvement
To improve schools, federal policymakers should consider state capacity, cost, and state politics and design policies that support more experimentation, evaluation, and dissemination of new knowledge while avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach.
May 16, 2011
News Release
Congress Should Expand School Performance Measures Beyond Those Found in 'No Child Left Behind'
Expanding measures of school performance beyond mathematics and English language arts will give educators better information when evaluating the academic achievements of schools.
Apr 26, 2011

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RAND Topic:
No Child Left Behind Act of 2001

Topic Synonyms:
NCLB

Research conducted by

RAND Education and Labor