BATON ROUGE, La. -- Louisiana has completed work on a plan for a strong state accountability system aligned with the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001, U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige announced today.

Paige made the announcement today during a visit to the state capitol where he was joined by Governor Mike Foster and State Superintendent Cecil Picard.

"Louisiana has built upon its existing state accountability system to produce an even stronger and more cohesive plan to benefit every child in the state," said Paige. "I congratulate Superintendent Picard and Governor Foster for this step forward. Louisiana has a distinguished history of education reform and cutting-edge work in assessment and accountability. With these improved accountability provisions and an established record of reform, Louisiana is firmly on the path to ensuring that no child is left behind."

Under NCLB's strong accountability provisions, states must describe how they will close the achievement gap and make sure all students, including disadvantaged students, achieve academic proficiency. In addition, they must produce annual state and school district report cards that inform parents and communities about state and school progress. Schools that do not make progress must provide supplemental services such as free tutoring or after-school assistance, take corrective actions and -- if still not making adequate yearly progress after five years -- must make dramatic changes in the way they operate.

Louisiana is the 11th state to gain approval. Other states whose plans have been approved include Colorado, Delaware, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, Ohio and West Virginia.

No Child Left Behind is the landmark education reform law designed to change the culture of America's schools by closing the achievement gap, offering more flexibility, giving parents more options and teaching students, based on what works. Foremost among the four key principles is an insistence on stronger accountability for results. To achieve that, states must develop strong accountability systems or improve those already in place, establish high standards and hold all children to the same standards. They also must provide instruction by highly qualified teachers that results in steady progress and, ultimately, proficiency for all students by the 2013-14 school year.

Secretary Paige recently asserted that the new law aims to correct the "previous and pervasive separate and unequal education systems that taught only some students well while the rest -- mostly poor and mostly minority -- floundered or flunked out."

All states submitted draft accountability plans to the U.S. Department of Education by the Jan. 31 deadline. Following an initial review and technical assistance, if needed, the next step is on-site peer review of each state's proposed accountability plan. Teams of three peer reviewers -- independent, nonfederal education policy, reform or statistical experts -- conduct each peer review. Following a review of the team's consensus report, the department provides feedback to the state and works to resolve any outstanding issues. Ultimately, Paige approves the state plan, as he did today.

To date, 47 states and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have had peer reviews of their accountability plans. Additionally, the senior staff of the Department of Education has finished meeting with education officials from the states to discuss the specifics of their plans and the unique challenges and issues in each state.

Despite all the priorities competing for our tax dollars, President Bush's budget boosts federal education funding to $53.1 billion -- an $11 billion increase since the president took office. Louisiana alone will receive more than $914 million, including $385 million to implement NCLB. If the president's budget is approved, federal education funding for Louisiana will have gone up $166 million since he took office.

Louisiana's plan will be posted online in the coming days at: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/CFP/csas/index.html.

For more information about the No Child Left Behind Act, go to www.nochildleftbehind.gov.

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