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 do standardized tests measure the progress of schools?

U.S. Department of Education:

Annual state assessment of students required under the No Child Left Behind Act produces data on student performance at individual schools; that information is used to gauge whether each school is meeting the state's standard of adequate yearly progress. Parents can keep track of student performance at their children's school by checking the annual district report card. If a school is not making adequate yearly progress and has been identified as needing improvement, corrective action, or restructuring, the No Child Left Behind Act requires that districts notify parents and offer educational options.

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