What assessments does No Child Left Behind require?

No Child Left Behind (NCLB) requires states to ensure through state assessments that students are meeting grade-level content and achievement standards in math and reading each year in grades 3-8 and once during grades 10-12. States have until the 2005-06 school year to have annual math and reading assessments in place (until then they must administer annual assessments in reading and math at least once during grades 3-5, 6-9 and 10-12.) In the 2007-08 school year, states are required to begin testing in science once in grades 3-5, 6-9, and 10-12. Although some states already have their assessments in place, others are in the process of developing them. For the current year alone, Congress provided states $390 million to pay for them.

To reach our goal of high achievement for all children, we must accurately and efficiently measure whether or not students are meeting the standards of learning expected of them, diagnose problems and offer immediate intervention. As President Bush has stated, "In order to make sure children are not simply shuffled through the system, we must measure. We must determine what needs to be corrected early, before it's too late."

States also must take part in the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP), in which only a sample of students in each state are assessed in math and reading in grades 4 and 8. Other assessments that districts and states use are not required by NCLB.

Tools for Teachers:

Cheryl Krehbiel, a 17-year teaching veteran currently serving as the staff development teacher at Summit Hall Elementary School in Gaithersburg, Md., wrote an article entitled "Quantitative Measures for Quality Results," explaining how she uses assessment data to inform her instruction.