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:

Can children who do not pass high stakes tests required under No Child Left Behind be promoted to the next grade or graduate from high school?

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION:

The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act does not address the issue of whether or not a student must pass a test in order to move on to the next grade or to graduate. This decision is made by a state's department of education.

The focus of NCLB is on ensuring that schools are making adequate yearly progress (AYP) as reflected in the results of a state's annual tests. As of the 2005-2006 school year, states are required to have annual assessments in reading and math in grades 3-8, and once between grades 10 and 12. By school year 2007-2008, states also must assess students in science at least once during grades 3-5, grades 6-9, and grades 10-12.

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