U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige today announced the awarding of $3.5 million to the Education Leaders Council to launch a nationwide initiative aimed at developing state models of action plans for putting the principles of President Bush's No Child Left Behind Act in to practice.

Through the Following The Leaders Project, ELC will identify states that can 'lead by example,' and help them establish a primer on assessment and accountability that others can use.

In order to develop real–life examples of the new law in action, the project will work with a select number of states and schools to develop an integrated accountability and information system from the schoolhouse to the statehouse. These pilot sites will demonstrate the promise of the No Child Left Behind Act once fully implemented.

"Seeing is believing, and this project will show our whole nation what is possible when the essential elements of reform are put in place," Paige said. "We expect this initiative to dramatically boost achievement for the students it serves, but also to leverage fundamental change throughout the nation's education system."

At its core, the project will provide tools to educators, parents and administrators to help them use student assessment data to improve instruction. These tools, developed by Project Achieve, will be made available to 15–50 schools in up to 20 states. In addition, Project Achieve's database of instructional resources will be available to all teachers in participating states.

The project will also provide intensive technical assistance to policymakers in these states to help them develop robust accountability plans in full compliance of NCLB. AccountabilityWorks, a non–profit organization with expertise in standards, assessments and accountability, will provide the policy assistance.

The initiative will also make the Teacher Advancement Program (TAP) available to all participating schools. This program, developed by the Milken Family Foundation, is a bold new strategy to attract, retain and motivate talented people to the teaching profession. It is based on five key principles: multiple career paths; market–driven compensation; performance–based accountability; ongoing, applied professional growth; and expanding the supply of high–quality educators.

The entire project will be thoroughly evaluated by the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation, a private foundation active in education reform and educational research.

The Education Leaders Council is a non–profit organization that provides a national voice for state leaders who are transforming public education and a strategic network for reform minded leaders that is independent and nonpartisan.

The grant is from the Fund for the Improvement of Education (FIE), under the Office of Educational Research and Improvement. FIE supports activities that stimulate reform and improve teaching and learning.

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