Improving Student Achievement in Elementary and Secondary Schools
- Many states have struggled to meet key requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLBA), including
- implementing provisions designed to improve student achievement in low-performing schools,
- increasing the number of highly qualified teachers, and
- implementing statewide assessment systems.
- Education has not taken sufficient action to ensure that states and school districts help low-performing schools improve student achievement.
- Though states generally target improvement funds to the most persistently underperforming schools, some states did not fulfill all NCLBA requirements for allocating or tracking funds.
- Some districts may not be implementing the required corrective action and restructuring activities in schools. Education does not collect this information, and doing so would better position Education to target its guidance and monitor areas of greatest need.
^ Back to topWhat Needs to Be Done
Education should
- help states better target improvement funds to the schools most in need of assistance.
Highlights of GAO-08-380 (PDF)
- improve the data used to distribute funds to help English-language learners.
Highlights of GAO-07-140 (PDF)
^ Back to topKey Reports
Teacher Quality
Sustained Coordination among Key Federal Education Programs Could Enhance State Efforts to Improve Teacher Quality
GAO-09-593, Aug 7, 2009
GAO-09-593, Aug 7, 2009
Teacher Preparation
Multiple Federal Education Offices Support Teacher Preparation for Instructing Students with Disabilities and English Language Learners, but Systematic Departmentwide Coordination Could Enhance This Assistance
GAO-09-573, Aug 19, 2009
GAO-09-573, Aug 19, 2009
No Child Left Behind Act
Education Should Clarify Guidance and Address Potential Compliance Issues for Schools in Corrective Action and Restructuring Status
GAO-07-1035, Sep 5, 2007
GAO-07-1035, Sep 5, 2007
No Child Left Behind Act
Education Could Do More to Help States Better Define Graduation Rates and Improve Knowledge about Intervention Strategies
GAO-05-879, Sep 20, 2005
GAO-05-879, Sep 20, 2005
No Child Left Behind Act
Education Actions Needed to Improve Local Implementation and State Evaluation of Supplemental Educational Services
GAO-06-758, Aug 4, 2006
GAO-06-758, Aug 4, 2006
No Child Left Behind Act
Education Actions Could Improve the Targeting of School Improvement Funds to Schools Most in Need of Assistance
GAO-08-380, Mar 25, 2008
GAO-08-380, Mar 25, 2008
No Child Left Behind Act
Assistance from Education Could Help States Better Measure Progress of Students with Limited English Proficiency
GAO-06-815, Jul 26, 2006
GAO-06-815, Jul 26, 2006
Higher Education
Factors Lenders Consider in Making Lending Decisions for Private Education Loans
GAO-10-86R, Nov 17, 2009
GAO-10-86R, Nov 17, 2009
Education's Data Management Initiative
Significant Progress Made, but Better Planning Needed to Accomplish Project Goals
GAO-06-6, Oct 28, 2005
More
Reports GAO-06-6, Oct 28, 2005
