Requirements for No Child Left Behind merged with ABCs standards

The U.S. Department of Education on April 25 approved North Carolina's plan to incorporate federal requirements into the state's ABCs accountability program for schools.

The requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) will thus be merged with the ABCs standards.

According to a release from the N.C. Department of Public Instruction (DPI), North Carolina was the 12th state whose plan was approved. Begun in 1996, ABCs stands for accountability, basics and local control. NCLB's three major requirements are accountability for results, closing achievement gaps and having a highly qualified teacher in every classroom.

One major distinction of NCLB is its consideration of subgroups. The legislation identifies 10 pupil subgroups: the school as a whole, white, black, Native American (a.k.a. American Indian), Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic, multiracial, limited English proficient, pupils with disabilities and economically disadvantaged pupils.

Each eligible subgroup at a school must make "adequate yearly progress" (AYP) in reading and mathematics, or the entire school fails under NCLB. Title I schools which fail to meet AYP for two or more years face sanctions. (All three of Alleghany's K-8 schools - Glade Creek, Piney Creek and Sparta - are Title I schools. Title I refers to a federal school funding program).

A Mixed Bag of Changes

As Alleghany County Schools Testing Coordinator Frank Busic explained, ABCs rules and regulations will be adjusted to conform with NCLB.

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