Education Reform:[Source: Judith B. Rajala, M.A., president and founder of EduHound.com, is an independent education technology instructor and former K-12 educator. T.H.E. Journal, page 31, January 2003.]

Education reform is the comprehensive and prioritized change within the field of K-12 education that promotes the overall improvement of student performance and academic achievement. The NCLB Act targets four basic education reform principles based on President Bush's priorities for America's schools (http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/education):

1. Stronger accountability for results. The act redefines the federal role in K-12 education by requiring all states to set high standards of achievement and create a system of accountibility to measure results, especially in reading and math.

2 Greater flexibility and local control. The act offers districts powerful tools to provide the best education to all children, especially those most in need, by cutting federal red tape; reducing the number of federal education programs; and creating larger, more flexible programs that place decision making at the local level.

3. Expanded options and choice for parents. The act empowers parents by providing unprecedented federal support that allows disadvantaged children who are trapped in low-performing or persistently dangerous schools to transfer to other public schools.

4. Emphasis on teaching methods that work. The act supports reading instruction based on research-based methods that work to ensure that every child in public schools reads at or above grade level by third grade. Also, it strengthens teacher quality for public schools by investing in training and retention of high quality teachers.

Education Reform Resources:

• Official No Child Left Behind Web Site
• ERIC Clearinghouse on Assessment and Evaluation
• Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory's Assessment Program
• McREL's Compendium of Standard's and Benchmarks
• National Institute for Literacy
• The National Center for Educational Accountibility
• The Eisenhower National Clearinghouse

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