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Past Extra Credits All issues

"Hearing from people who work in Washington, D.C., was insightful, said Lalo Ponce, an assistant superintendent in the Elgin Area School District U-46. They brought a perspective that helps him understand the intent of the legislation and its future direction, he said. 'It is good to get their thoughts and ideas in what they see in 'No Child Left Behind,'' Ponce said. 'It brings it alive.'"

"Maria Hernandez Ferrier, director of the department's office of language acquisition, and Zollie Stevenson Jr. and Millie Bentley-Memon, both from the department, spoke about 'No Child Left Behind.' ... Ferrier and [the] two other education experts were brought to Geneva for two sessions Thursday by U.S. Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, a Yorkville Republican. They talked on accountability and assessment and how the law benefits disadvantaged students and those who are learning the English language."

"The January 2002 law changed the federal government's role in education. The law establishes school standards and allows each state to devise specific plans for achieving those goals. Under the law, all third-graders must be proficient in reading and all students must meet or exceed state reading and math standards by the 2013-14 school year. By 2005-06, students in grades three through eight must be tested annually in reading and math and all teachers must be 'highly qualified.' All limited-English students should become proficient and all students should graduate from high school, the law mandates."