No Educator Left Behind is a series providing answers from the U.S. Department of Education to questions about the federal No Child Left Behind Act and how it will affect educators. If you have a question about No Child Left Behind, send an e-mail to Ellen Delisio, and we will submit your question to the Department of Education.

Question:

Under the No Child Left Behind Act, how are successful schools and teachers rewarded?

U.S. Department of Education:

The No Child Left Behind Act requires states to provide state academic achievement awards to schools that close achievement gaps between groups of students or schools that exceed academic achievement goals. States also may use Title I funds to financially reward teachers in schools that receive academic achievement awards. In addition, states must designate as "distinguished" schools that have made the greatest gains in closing achievement gaps or in exceeding achievement goals.

Read previous questions and answers in our No Educator Left Behind archive.