Just in case you're looking for reading material....

Phil

U.S. Department of Education
Office of Public Affairs, News Branch
400 Maryland Ave., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20202

FOR RELEASE                                     Contact:  Melinda Malico
October 21, 2002                                (202) 401-1576

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OFFERS DESKTOP REFERENCE TO NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND
ACT

        The U.S. Department of Education has produced a new 180-page
desktop reference manual to No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, the new
landmark education reform law.

        The guide is a clear and straightforward, program-by-program
look at the major reforms under the new law.  The publication is being
provided to educators attending a series of four regional meetings to
further assist them in effectively implementing NCLB, and specifically,
the Title I Program. The department expects to make additional copies of
the publication available to educators, school leaders and policymakers.

        "This historic reform gives states and school districts
unprecedented flexibility in how they spend their education dollars, in
return for setting standards for student achievement and holding
students and educators accountable fore results," U.S. Secretary of
Education Rod Paige said in the publication's foreword.  "It also
provides more options for parents to help offer their children the best
possible education and invests in teaching practices that have been
demonstrated to work.  In short, it aims to foster an environment in
which every children can learn."

        NCLB is built upon four key principles:  accountability for
results; flexibility and local control; enhanced parental choice, and
instruction based on scientific research.

        For each section of NCLB, the manual details the purpose of the
program, what's new in the law, how the program works, key requirements,
how to achieve quality, how performance is measured, and key activities
and responsibilities for state education departments.

        The manual covers:

.       Title I, Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged
.       Title II, Preparing, Training and Recruiting High-Quality
Teachers
and Principals
.       Title III, Language Instruction for Limited English Proficient
and
Immigrant Students
.       Title IV, 21st Century Schools
.       Title V, Promoting Informed Parental Choice and Innovative
Programs
.       Title VI, Flexibility and Accountability
.       Title VII, Indian, Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native Education
.       Title VIII, Impact Aid
.       Title IX, Unsafe School Choice Option
.       Title X, McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance

        Copies of the publication are available free of charge by
calling 1-877-4ED-PUBS or online at http://www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs.html.
The report can also be accessed through ED's web site at
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/reference.html.

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