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:

How can NCLB help improve student math achievement?

U.S. Department of Education:

NCLB aims to improve math achievement through partnerships, professional development, higher salaries, and research.

As of 2005, NCLB required states to fill the nation's classrooms with teachers who are knowledgeable and experienced in math and science. The president also supports paying math and science teachers more to help attract people with experience.

The National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education expect to provide an estimated $1 billion over five years for results-oriented partnerships between local districts and universities to bring urgency, tested methods, and high-level expertise to rebuilding math excellence.

The partnerships will invite businesses, science centers, museums, and community organizations to unite with schools to improve achievement. The program also rewards states for increasing student participation in advanced courses in math and science and for passing advanced placement exams. To ensure accountability, the partnerships must report annually to the U.S. secretary of education on progress in meeting their objectives, which are aligned to state standards.

Under NCLB, federal funding only goes to those programs that are supported by evidence of success. Over the last decade, researchers have scientifically proven the best ways to teach reading. We must do the same in math. That means using only research-based teaching methods and rejecting unproven fads. The law also requires that states annually measure the math progress of students in grades 3-8.

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