The U.S. Department of Education has produced a new 180-page desktop reference manual to No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, the new landmark education reform law.

The guide, No Child Left Behind: A Desktop Reference, is a clear and straightforward, program-by-program look at the major reforms under the new law. The publication is being provided to educators attending a series of four regional meetings to further assist them in effectively implementing NCLB, and specifically, the Title I Program. The department expects to make additional copies of the publication available to educators, school leaders and policymakers.

"This historic reform gives states and school districts unprecedented flexibility in how they spend their education dollars, in return for setting standards for student achievement and holding students and educators accountable fore results," U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige said in the publication's foreword. "It also provides more options for parents to help offer their children the best possible education and invests in teaching practices that have been demonstrated to work. In short, it aims to foster an environment in which every children can learn."

NCLB is built upon four key principles: accountability for results; flexibility and local control; enhanced parental choice, and instruction based on scientific research.

For each section of NCLB, the manual details the purpose of the program, what's new in the law, how the program works, key requirements, how to achieve quality, how performance is measured, and key activities and responsibilities for state education departments.

The manual covers:

• Title I, Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged
• Title II, Preparing, Training and Recruiting High-Quality Teachers and Principals
• Title III, Language Instruction for Limited English Proficient and Immigrant Students
• Title IV, 21st Century Schools
• Title V, Promoting Informed Parental Choice and Innovative Programs
• Title VI, Flexibility and Accountability
• Title VII, Indian, Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native Education
• Title VIII, Impact Aid
• Title IX, Unsafe School Choice Option
• Title X, McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance

A limited number of copies of the publication will be available free of charge by calling 1-877-4ED-PUBS or online at http://www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs.html. The full report can also be accessed and downloaded through ED's web site at http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/nclbreference/page.html.

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