Elementary and Secondary Education Act (P.L. 107-110)

About the Act

The nation currently knows the Elementary and Secondary Education Act as the No Child Left Behind Act. The title of the Act changes every time Congress reauthorizes it, but the name of the Act in law does not.  

This act includes many programs for children in the K-12 education system and the Even Start Family Literacy Program. Even Start provides important adult literacy services to parents of young children. It also provides age-appropriate education for their young children. It was scheduled for reauthorization during the 110th Congress but Congress failed reach agreement on key issues.

What’s the Issue

The Coalition must ensure that Congress does not overlook parents’ educational needs as they reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Parental support matters in a child’s success in school:

• Children’s literacy levels are strongly linked to their parents’ educational levels, especially their mothers.
• Many parents do not have the academic skills to nurture and support their child with schoolwork.

The Coalition:

• Believes that the Elementary and Secondary Education Act’s parental involvement programs should connect parents to adult education and family literacy programs. Supports incorporating adult education and family literacy into other important Elementary and Secondary Education Act programs as appropriate.
• Supports reauthorizing the Even Start Family Literacy Act, which is a part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
• Supports legislation to improve the Even Start Family Literacy Act. Congressman John Yarmuth (D-KY) introduced this legislation called Families Conquering Literacy Together Act of 2007 (H.R. 3055).

Next Steps

We will monitor reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. In addition, we will review our previous proposal for revising the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and decide whether we will send recommendations to the 111th Congress. This proposal explores connections between this act and adult education and family literacy programs. We will also review any legislation introduced to change Even Start.

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