Assessment/Accountability
No Child Left Behind

NCLB HEADLINES:

05/09/12

 

Waiver of Requirements Regarding Supplemental Educational Services (SES) and NCLB Public School Choice

03/12/12

 

FY12 (2011-12) Title I and Supplemental Educational Services (SES) Data Collection

NCLB NEWS ARCHIVES

Signed into law by President George W. Bush on January 8, 2002, the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) is the principal federal law affecting education from kindergarten through high school. NCLB is built on four pillars: expanded local control and flexibility; doing what works based on scientific research; accountability for results; and more options for parents. The main goal of NCLB is to help all students in the Commonwealth to reach proficiency in English language arts/reading and mathematics by the year 2014.

On September 23, 2011, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) invited state educational agencies to request flexibility on behalf of itself, its districts, and schools, in order to better focus on improving student learning and increasing the quality of instruction. This voluntary opportunity will provide educators and state and local leaders with flexibility regarding specific requirements of NCLB in exchange for rigorous and comprehensive state-developed plans designed to improve educational outcomes for all students, close achievement gaps, increase equity, and improve the quality of instruction. Such efforts were not anticipated when NCLB was enacted over a decade ago, and now many of the NCLB requirements have unintentionally become barriers to state and local implementation of forward-looking reform efforts.

On November 14, 2011, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) submitted a waiver request to ED seeking flexibility from certain provisions of NCLB while maintaining the state's high standards and expectations of increasing performance for all students. On January 6, 2012, ESE submitted a revised request based on feedback it received from the U.S. Department of Education's panel of peer reviewers. The components of both submissions are posted below.

January 18, 2012 Resubmission

Feedback from U.S. Department of Education

  

Summary of Additional Information Regarding Massachusetts's ESEA Flexibility Request

  

Peer Panel Notes

Massachusetts' Waiver Request

  

Massachusetts' ESEA/NCLB Waiver Request - Questions and Answers

  

Massachusetts' ESEA/NCLB Waiver Overview

  

Massachusetts' ESEA/NCLB Waiver Overview Slideshow, Including Changes to Original Request

  

Massachusetts' Elementary and Secondary Education (ESEA) / NCLB Waiver Request Resubmission Last updated 2/3/2012

November 14, 2011 Submission

  

Massachusetts' Elementary and Secondary Education (ESEA) / NCLB Waiver Request

Attachment 1: Notice to Local Education Agencies (LEAs)

  

Attachment 2: Comments on request received from LEAs (if applicable)

Attachment 3: Notice and information provided to the public regarding the request

Attachment 4: Evidence that the State has formally adopted college- and career-ready content standards consistent with the State's standards adoption process

  

Attachment 6: State's Race to the Top Assessment Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

Attachment 8: 2010-11 Massachusetts Statewide Composite Performance Index (CPI) Data - All Grades Combined

Attachment 9: Reward, Priority, and Focus Schools

Attachment 10: Final Regulations on Evaluation of Educators

  

Attachment 11: Adoption of Regulations on Evaluation of Educators

  

Attachment 12: Level 4/Priority School Redesign Plan Template