NBPTS Exceptional Needs Specialist Practice Exam 2026 – All-in-One Guide to Master Your Certification!

The No Child Left Behind Act was enacted in 2001 and is primarily recognized for its strong focus on accountability measures in education. This law aimed to close the achievement gap between students by implementing standardized testing to assess student progress. Schools were required to demonstrate adequate yearly progress (AYP) based on students' performance on these tests. Schools that failed to meet AYP faced a variety of consequences, which could include funding reductions and restructuring requirements, thereby emphasizing accountability in public education.

In contrast, the other laws mentioned address different aspects of education. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act focuses on ensuring services for students with disabilities, the Every Student Succeeds Act reauthorized the earlier No Child Left Behind Act but gave more control to states regarding accountability, and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act centers on the privacy of student education records.