On January 8, 2002, President Bush signed into law the No Child Left Behind of 2001 (NCLB).  This law represents the U. S. Department of Education’s reform plan and changes many aspects of public education in America.

This federal legislation (NCLB) requires school and district report cards containing specific information.  The required information falls in three general categories:  school improvement, teacher qualifications, and test data.  “School Improvement Status” is assigned to schools that are failing to make “adequate yearly progress (AYP)” as measured by student achievement test scores.  Another aspect of the report cards deals with the qualifications of our teachers.  All teachers in core academic subject areas must be “highly qualified” which means that they hold a valid state teaching license.  Finally, test data must be reported.  NCLB mandates that results of the Mississippi Curriculum Test (grades 2-8) and the Subject Area Testing Program be published in annual district and school report cards so that parents can measure the performance of their child’s school.  These tests provide information regarding how well a student has demonstrated mastery of the skills and content outlined in the Mississippi Curriculum Frameworks.

Student achievement is reported on the Mississippi Curriculum testing system by proficiency levels.  These levels have been established as follows:

• Advanced – The student consistently performs in a manner clearly beyond that required to be successful at the next grade.
• Proficient – The student demonstrates solid academic performance and mastery of the content area knowledge and skills required for the next grade.  Students who perform at this level are prepared to begin work on even more challenging material that is required at the next grade.
• Basic – The student demonstrates partial mastery of the content area knowledge and skills required for success at the next grade.  Remediation may be necessary for these students.
• Minimal – The students below basic do not demonstrate mastery of the content area knowledge and skills required for success at the next grade.  These students require additional instruction and remediation in the basic skills that are necessary for success at the next grade.

The goal is for all students to perform at the Proficient level or above.