No Child Left Behind Primer: Second Printing

by Frederick M. Hess, Michael J. Petrilli

No Child Left Behind (NCLB) is the single most influential piece of federal education legislation in American history, and Hess and Petrilli provide a concise yet comprehensive look at this important and controversial act. Signed into law in 2002, NCLB seeks to ensure that all American students are proficient in math, reading, and science by 2014. Trumping two centuries of state primacy in K-12 education, it set standards for measuring student performance, ensuring the quality of teachers, and providing options for students in ineffective schools. The authors trace the heritage of these new policies, explain how they work, and examine the challenges of their implementation.

Genres: Education

152 pages, Paperback

First published February 24, 2006

Reviews

[Elizabeth]

This book was a readable and overall politically neutral summary of the No Child Left Behind federal legislation. This book gave a good summary of the background surrounding NCLB, discussed the politics involved in passing NCLB, and included a summary of what the legislation entailed. It provided a good overview of the main objectives and reasoning behind NCLB as well as the major critiques. This book was written in 2006, so some of the information is already a bit dated but I think it is important for educators, parents, and the public to know what NCLB actually sanctions and what it does not. There are a lot of misconceptions about the law--for and against it.

[Ryan]

Unlike most academic texts, this "primer" read like a good New Yorker Article. The text is well organized, thoughtful, focused and built around what NCLB is and how it came to. Essential reading for anyone who wants to wrap their heads around the basics of this landmark revision of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (1964).

[McKay]

Really opened my eyes. Anyone wanting to learn more about No Child Left Behind should read this book. It is a great summary that outlines the policy established by both political parties and is an easy read...which is great for idiots like myself that need policies dumbed down.