Making Connections
NCLB No Child Left Behind

In January of 2002, President Bush signed House Resolution 1 (HR 1 or No Child Left Behind Act of 2001) into law. The Act places many new requirements on schools. Fortunately, schools do not have to look far for a tool to help them meet the new legislative requirements in a cost-effective manner. NCA CASI's performance accreditation framework provides the structure and support to help schools meet the law's demands.

No Child Left Behind
NCLB requires states, districts, and schools to ensure that all students demonstrate proficiency in math and reading/language arts in 12 years. Science skills will be assessed soon. Schools must demonstrate adequate yearly progress toward achieving the proficiency goals set by the state for each student subgroup. If any subgroup fails to meet the adequate yearly progress target, the entire school fails to make adequate yearly progress. Schools that receive Title I funds and fail to achieve adequate yearly progress for two consecutive years will be identified as in need of improvement. These schools and schools that continue to fail to demonstrate adequate yearly progress are subject to multiple requirements and sanctions.

NCA CASI Performance Accreditation Framework
To earn NCA CASI accreditation, schools must meet quality standards, be evaluated by an outside group of professionals, and engage in continuous school improvement focused on increasing student performance. Known as the Performance Accreditation framework, this process is designed to help schools maximize the proportion of promoted or graduated students who are self-directed learners and are prepared to make successful school-to-school or school-to-career transitions. Schools that choose to engage in this process demonstrate their willingness to be held accountable for quality and improved student learning.

This brochure documents the connections between NCA CASI and No Child Left Behind Legislation. NCA CASI personalizes school improvement planning to meet student needs and state and federal requirements.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
How are NCA CASI and NCLB alike?
Schools that have been following NCA CASI’s performance accreditation framework are well on their way to meeting the key requirements of the new No Child Left Behind legislation. Both NCLB and NCA CASI require schools to:

• Regularly monitor student performance in key areas
• Disaggregate and analyze performance data by student subgroups
• Demonstrate growth in performance for all student subgroups
• Develop a school improvement plan that includes goals for increasing student performance and research-based strategies for achieving those goals
• Monitor performance against the school improvement plan
• Engage in an external review process
• Hire qualified teachers
• Involve parents in the school improvement process
• Regularly report to the community about the school’s performance and progress on its school improvement plan

• Contact your School Improvement Chairperson , the individual assigned by the NCA CASI state office to conduct the peer review. The chair and the team members may be able to guide you to resources and provide insight into improving the plan.
• Call your state NCA CASI office. The state office can help you locate expert help (an Ambassador for your state or from the regional office may provide valuable assistance), make available technical assistance, or supply information on specific resources available. Phone 1-800-525-9517, extension 2, and put in the first three letters of your state’s name.
• Phone the NCA CASI regional office at 1-800-525-9517 to inquire about services that may assist you in your improvement planning.
• Review the NCA CASI website for the handbooks, software, Expert Database, or CASI regional workshops focused on improving student performance.
• Consult the Accredited Schools Guide to Benefits, Resources & Services, available in PDF format.

It is possible that an accredited school could be on the state’s improvement list and be subject to the state’s corrective actions. As long as the school continues to meet the NCA CASI’s standards and makes progress toward improving student achievement, the school will maintain its accreditation status.

How can I learn more?
Contact your State Director for NCA CASI to find out more about the connections between NCA and NCLB. Your state NCA CASI office may be reached through 1-800-525-9517, ext. 2. Enter the first three letters of your state's name to be connected directly to your state office.

How Can Schools Use the NCA CASI Performance Accreditation Framework to Meet the Requirements of NCLB?

Following are some examples of the ways schools can use NCA CASI’s performance accreditation framework, tools, materials, and training to support their efforts in meeting the requirements of NCLB.

• Use NCA CASI’s data analysis and school profile software to monitor and analyze the adequate yearly progress of the student subgroups required by NCLB.
• Use NCA CASI’s school improvement handbook and rubrics to engage in a school improvement process that is based in research and designed for success. NCLB requires research-based strategies.
• Focus the school’s goals on improving the core academic program in reading, math, and science. This will help ensure alignment with the requirements of NCLB.
• Ensure that the school’s improvement goals include specific annual, measurable objectives for continuous and substantial progress by each group of students. Refer to NCA's Assessment Guides for Help in Elementary and Secondary Reading.
• Use performance on the state assessments as one of the measures the school regularly reviews to gauge progress toward meeting the school’s improvement goals.
• Attend NCA CASI school improvement training sessions.
• Talk to district and/or state education officials about using NCLB money to fund attendance at NCA CASI conferences, as the legislation makes available federal money for the professional development needs of teachers and administrators.
• Use the chairperson and members of the NCA CASI peer review team to obtain ongoing technical assistance on school improvement. Use them as resources throughout the school year. They can help schools with data analysis, goal and intervention development, and assessment development.
• Align the school budget with the needs identified in the school improvement plan. Use the school improvement plan to make resource decisions in the school building or district.
• Talk with state department of education officials about using NCLB money to pay NCA dues. The legislation allows schools to use federal dollars to support continuous school improvement.