No Child Left Behind Resources 

Quick Facts: Highlights of No Child Left Behind for Science and Math Educators

Prepared by the Triangle Coalition for Science and Technology Education and the NSTA Office of Legislative Affairs

The law requires states to develop plans with annual measurable objectives that will ensure that all math and science teachers are "highly qualified" by the end of the 2005-2006 school year.  (Highly qualified means all teachers must be certified or licensed, hold a bachelor's degree, and have demonstrated competencies in his or her teaching area, as determined by the state.)

Over $2.8 billion will be made available to school districts nationwide under Title II, Part A, Improving Teaching Quality State Grants, during the 2002-2003 school year.

While there is no set-aside for math and science in Title II, all of the funding that a district receives for Title II can be used for professional development, including math and science professional development if a district so chooses.

In order for a district to continue to receive Title II funding it must have conducted an assessment of its professional development and hiring needs. This needs assessment must be carried out with the involvement of teachers.

In order for a district to receive Title II funding, it must submit to the state an application, which includes a plan to improve teacher quality, based on the results of the needs assessment.  Teachers must be involved in the preparation of this plan.

States will be required to test students in math and reading every year in grades 3 through 8. States must set—then meet—rigorous annual yearly progress marks towards having all students proficient in these areas by the end of the 2013-14 school year. States must administer an annual assessment of student achievement in science at least once in grades 3-5, 6-9, and 10-12, beginning in 2007.

Districts have flexible use of Title II funds. They can opt to move 50 percent of funds from one or all of four major federal programs (Teacher Quality State Grants, Education Technology, Safe and Drug Free Schools, and Innovative Education Programs) into Title I programs or into any one of these programs.