NCLB requires states and school districts to implement standards, assessments, and accountability systems in reading and math. Westfall Local School District was already implementing many of the main elements required by NCLB, including a standards-aligned curriculum, investing in teacher professional development, and focusing on accountability, assessment, and research-based strategies to improve student performance. The district monitors its Title I schools annually on the ten components of an effective schoolwide program.

1. What is “No Child Left Behind” and
What Does it Mean for Westfall Local Schools?
On January 8, 2002, President Bush signed into law the No Child Left Behind Act
(NCLB). This legislation includes the federal support that states and local school
districts receive for eligible schools know as Title 1. NCLB requires that every state and
school district develop and implement standards, assessments and accountability
system in Reading and Mathematics. Because the federal law focuses on many
concepts and instructional strategies that the Westfall Local School District has put in
place,
Consider these current district practices, which are the main elements of the
NCLB law:
1. A strengthened district-wide core curriculum aligned to state standards and
testing in English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies, and
standards-based instruction in all subject areas;
2. Investing in high-quality professional development for all teaches to ensure that
Westfall Local School teachers meet the definition of highly-qualified according to
federal guidelines, as well as an aggressive teacher recruitment programs;
3. An emphasis on accountability and assessment. These elements have been in
place in the state of Ohio through its Department of Education’s State, District
and School Report Cards, annual Value Added Growth Measures, and the
state’s list of schools that are low performing, improving, or in good standing.
4. A focus on proven strategies that work such as the districts Balanced Literacy
Framework, School Improvement Plans and academic Intervention Programs.
5. Expanded options for parents, such as the district’s Open Enrollment Process
which now gives priority to the most academically challenged students in the
lowest performing schools, the recently introduced Public School of Choice,
which offers student options for enrolling in neighboring district/buildings not in
school improvement and the Parents’ Right to Know about the status of their
children’s schools and teachers.
6. Schools are monitored annually on the Ten Components of a Title I Schoolwide
Program. These are:
1. Comprehensive Needs Assessment; 2. Schoolwide Reform Strategies;
3. Instruction by Highly Qualified Staff; 4. High Quality Professional
Development; 5. Attracting Highly Qualified Teachers; 6. Assistance to
Preschool Children; 7. Transition: Assisting Children to the next level;
8. Teachers in Decision Making; 9. Timely, Additional Assistance to Students
Experiencing Difficulty; 10. Coordination and Integration of Federal, State and
Local Programs.