Introduction
This is the age of high standards and accountability in education.
All students deserve
to receive a high-quality education, and all taxpayers
deserve to know how well their investment in public education is
paying off. Research shows that students who are in the classrooms
of "highly qualified" teachers achieve at a higher rate.
NCLB
With the enactment of The No
Child Left Behind Act
of 2001 (NCLB), Congress and the President have expressed
their commitment to educational excellence. The NCLB Act was signed
into law in January 2002, replacing the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965. This historic legislation provides states
and school systems with unprecedented flexibility in how education
dollars are spent while expanding options for parents to ensure
that their children receive the best possible education. The reform
contains
sweeping changes on how our children are educated and
how the federal government supports education. American schools
must now describe their success in terms of what each student accomplishes.
Timelines
NCLB establishes timelines that focus on quality teachers and paraprofessionals.
By 2006, all teachers teaching in core academic
subjects must
be "highly qualified," and
all paraprofessionals employed in Title I schools must be
deemed "highly qualified" by January 2006. The
purpose of the Title II-A program (Improving Teacher
Quality State Grants) is to increase the academic achievement of
all students by helping schools and districts improve their teachers,
paraprofessionals, and other educational personnel within the allocated
time.
Funded Activities
For the first time, funded activities must be grounded in scientifically
based research so that students benefit from teaching practices
and methods that are based on what works. The Title II-A program
(Improving Teacher Quality State Grants) permits activities such
as teacher preparation and professional development, support, recruitment,
and retention.
You are invited to browse
the different areas of the website
for additional information
and details on the
Title II, Part A of the NCLB Act.
|
