NCLB Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield NCLB facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Under NCLB, what happened to AYP annual measurable objectives (AMOs) over time? → They increased incrementally each year, with steeper increases closer to the 2014 deadline
2. Under NCLB, which title specifically addresses the education of English Language Learners (ELLs)? → Title III
3. Which NCLB requirement specifically addresses the needs of migrant students in the context of school improvement? → States must coordinate services to ensure migrant students are counted and served
4. Which federal assessment was used as an external benchmark to compare rigor of state assessments under NCLB? → NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress)
5. Under NCLB, a school that fails AYP for three consecutive years must provide what service in addition to public school choice? → Supplemental educational services (SES) from approved outside providers
6. Which of the following is NOT considered a 'core academic subject' under NCLB for HQT purposes? → Physical education
7. What does it mean for a school to be in 'Year 1 of School Improvement' under NCLB? → The school has missed AYP for two consecutive years and must offer school choice
8. Which federal law first established Supplemental Educational Services (SES) as a parental option for students in low-performing schools? → No Child Left Behind Act of 2001
9. What is the purpose of the Title I set-aside for parental involvement activities? → To involve parents in the education of their children and build capacity for involvement
10. Under NCLB, which entity was primarily responsible for setting the specific academic standards students must meet? → Individual states
11. A district receives Title I funds. Under NCLB, the district's annual report card must include which of the following regarding school safety? → The number of persistently dangerous schools and violent incidents at each school
12. Under NCLB parental choice provisions, transportation to the new school must be provided by: → The local educational agency (district)
13. Under NCLB, what must states do if they want to use a different accountability system from the standard AYP model? → Obtain a federal waiver from the Secretary of Education
14. Which grade bands were required under NCLB to be tested annually in reading and mathematics for AYP purposes? → Grades 3–8 and once in high school
15. If a state failed to meet its annual measurable objective for the percentage of HQT teachers, NCLB required the state to: → Develop and submit an improvement plan to the U.S. Department of Education
16. Under NCLB, a teacher using the HOUSSE option must demonstrate competence primarily through which type of evidence? → A combination of teaching experience, professional development, and knowledge indicators
17. Any exam that is crucial or forms the basis of a significant choice; these are frequently used to determine accountability → High-stakes examinations
18. Under NCLB, what minimum number of students in a subgroup was typically required before a school was held accountable for that subgroup's performance? → A state-determined minimum sample size
19. NCLB required state report cards to report which teacher-related metric at the school and district level? → The percentage of classes not taught by highly qualified teachers
20. What federal office was primarily responsible for approving state accountability plans under NCLB, including subgroup definitions and AYP calculations? → The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
21. Under NCLB, by what school year were all students expected to reach proficiency in reading and math? → 2013–2014
22. What is the annual school report card required under NCLB designed to show? → School performance data, disaggregated by subgroup, including AYP status
23. Under NCLB, how frequently were states required to publish their annual report cards? → Once per year, with data from the preceding school year
24. Under NCLB, how frequently were states required to assess students in reading and mathematics in grades 3–8? → Annually
25. What happens to a school's Title I funding if the school is identified for corrective action under NCLB? → The school must use at least 10% of its Title I funds for professional development
26. How are Title III funds primarily allocated to states under NCLB? → Based on the number of ELL and immigrant students enrolled
27. What percentage of students in a subgroup was generally required before that subgroup's data counted separately for AYP purposes? → A minimum n-size set by each state, typically around 30-50 students
28. NCLB required states to set proficiency targets on a trajectory to reach 100% proficiency by which year? → 2014
29. Under NCLB, which federal law governed the rights and accountability requirements for students with disabilities as a subgroup? → The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
30. The Children's Defense Fund claims that: → everything mentioned above.