COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 33

March 8, 2002

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Jo Lynne DeMary Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	P.L.107-110 No Child Left Behind Act of 2001

President George W. Bush signed into law on January 8, 2002 the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001, the most sweeping reform of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act since its enactment in 1965. Its purpose is to ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach, at a minimum, proficiency on challenging State academic content standards and challenging student academic achievement standards. This legislation contains new requirements for state and local education agencies. Some of these major requirements are assessment and accountability; adequate yearly progress; teacher and paraprofessional qualifications; parental choice; rewards and sanctions; school safety; language instruction; flexibility; and technology.

Mark C. Christie, president, State Board of Education, has appointed a committee of the board to review provisions of the NCLB Act and to determine its impact on board regulations. Further, the NCLB legislation is being reviewed by Virginia Department of Education staff members in order to assist school divisions in providing federal, state, and local education services. During the next few months, NCLB technical assistance will be offered to school divisions. The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 can be read in its entirety by visiting www.ed.gov/nclb.

If you have questions, please contact Cynthia A.Cave, (mailto:ccave@pen.k12.va.us), director for Policy

Analysis, at (804) 371-0558 or George H. Irby, (mailto:girby@pen.k12.va.us), director for Compensatory Programs, at 225-2869.

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