No Child Left Behind was created in 2002 by the federal government to hold schools and school districts accountable for student academic results. It requires all districts and schools to meet goals set by each state for their total student population.
If a Title I school fails to meet their state's goals for two or more years in a row, they are classified a "needing improvement" and face consequences.
The purpose of No Child Left Behind is to close the gap in student achievement so that all students are performing at acceptable levels.
The goal is that all students will meet or exceed minimum levels of achievement in reading, mathematics, social studies, and science by the school year 2013-2014. To measure progress toward this goal, students attending grades 3-8 in Georgia schools take yearly tests. Students are also tested at least once during high school.
Other No Child Left Behind goals are that all limited English speakers will become proficient in English, all teachers will be highly qualified, all students will be educate in safe, drug-free environments, and all students will graduate from high school.