The document summarizes key education reform acts and policies in the United States from 1983 to 2002, culminating in the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act. It discusses reports in the 1980s that called for higher academic standards and expectations. The 1990s saw the passage of goals to improve student outcomes and the development of standards-based reforms under the Clinton administration. While these faced political opposition, the Bush administration was able to gain bipartisan support for the No Child Left Behind Act in 2002, which continued the focus on standards, testing, and accountability.

1. No Child Left Behind(PL 107-110, 2002)

2. A Gathering StormA Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform (National Commission of Excellence in Education, 1983)Emphasize academic content

3. Longer school days and years

4. Increase academic expectations and raise grading standards

5. Goals 2000 (1994) led by National Governor’s Association

6. All children ready to start school

7. Increase graduation rate to 90%

8. U. S. first in math and science

9. Every adult literate

10. Evidences of Discontent(U. S. Dept. of Gov., 2000)

11. Reading Proficiency

12. Math Proficiency

13. Science Proficiency

14. The Politicization of EducationEducation is funded by taxpayer dollarsPolitical party in power establishes directionA number of different voices regarding improving educational performance

15. Elementary and Secondary Education Act (1994 Reauthorization)Developed and implemented under President ClintonSignaled national commitment to standards-based educational reform States were to develop content and performance standardsNational testing three times between grades 3 and 12Notion of “adequate yearly progress”Threat of federal government withhold funds to statesPolitical differences between Democrat and Republican on funding stopped reauthorization in 1999

16. “Compassionate Conservatism”“the soft bigotry of low expectations”Maximize parental choice and local spending flexibilityAs Texas governor he wanted federal govt. out of state educationAs newly elected president Bush promoted federal govt. leading educational reformA bi-partisan plan was presented to Congress in 2001This plan borrowed liberally from the Democrat plan90% of the House and Senate ratified the new reauthorization and renamed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act

17. No Child Left Behind(January 8, 2002)