II. Executive Summary of Volume I: Implementation of Title I

The Title I program began in 1965 as part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and is intended to help ensure that all children have the opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach proficiency on challenging state standards and assessments. The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) built upon and expanded the assessment and accountability provisions that had been enacted as part of the ESEA's previous reauthorizing legislation, the Improving America's Schools Act (IASA), while also creating new provisions related to parental choice and teacher quality. These and other changes were intended to increase the quality and effectiveness not only of the Title I program, but also of the entire elementary and secondary education system in raising the achievement of all students, particularly those with the lowest achievement levels.

As part of the No Child Left Behind Act, the Congress mandated a National Assessment of Title I to evaluate the implementation and impact of the program. The mandate specifically requires a longitudinal study of Title I schools, as well as an Independent Review Panel composed of expert researchers and practitioners to advise the U.S. Department of Education on the conduct of the National Assessment. An interim report is due in 2005 and a final report is due in 2007.

This report constitutes Volume I of the National Assessment of Title I interim report and focuses on implementation of key Title I provisions related to state assessments, accountability, school choice and supplemental educational services, and teacher quality, as well as examining trends in student achievement. The report draws on data from two evaluations of NCLB implementation conducted by the Department, the National Longitudinal Study of NCLB and the Study of State Implementation of Accountability and Teacher Quality Under NCLB, both of which collected data in the 2004-05 school year. The report also includes data from earlier studies, state performance reports, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, and other sources.

The final report will provide more complete data on Title I implementation and outcomes, including information about the targeting and uses of Title I funds, services for private school students, findings from a parent survey about parents' experiences with choice options, and analyses of a) student outcomes associated with participation in the Title I choice and supplemental services options and b) the impact on student achievement of identifying schools for improvement.

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