Implementing the No Child Left Behind Act: Implications for Rural Schools and Districts
Executive Summary
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) presents challenges for schools and districts to ensure that all students meet state standards for proficiency by 2014 and that, by 2006, all teachers are highly qualified. Because of small student populations and geographic isolation, these requirements are uniquely problematic for rural schools and districts.
While the challenges are not insurmountable, rural schools and districts will require assistance and guidance from federal and state policymakers to effectively build the local capacity necessary to comply with NCLB.
This paper includes a discussion of the unique challenges NCLB presents for rural schools and suggests strategies that hold promise for helping rural schools meet federal requirements.
