Overview

The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) renewed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the federal law related to education in prekindergarten through grade 12, in 2002. NCLB presents an opportunity to ensure that Latino and English language learner (ELL) students obtain access to the rigorous coursework they need to meet challenging standards and that their progress is measured by appropriate assessments. In addition, the reporting of this information required under NCLB can provide parents and the community with the tools to hold schools accountable for helping students meet academic standards.

NCLR Position

Properly supported and implemented, NCLB encompasses high expectations for Latinos and ELLs, the appropriate use of assessments to measure and improve their levels of achievement, increased accountability and resources for school systems serving ELLs, and a greater role for the community in ensuring that these components are in place. However, important questions of policy and practice remain which must be answered to fulfill the promise of NCLB for ELLs and Latinos.  NCLR intends to work with policy-makers, researchers, administrators, teachers, and parents to provide the public schools with the tools to effectively implement NCLB. For more information regarding NCLR’s position on NCLB, please refer to “The National Council of La Raza’s Position on the No Child Left Behind Act and English Language Learners.”

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