Final answer:
Under The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, children in schools not meeting state standards could transfer to another school, and their schools could face several actions including curriculum changes or closure. The act emphasized testing and accountability but led to a focus on '“teaching to the test,” which was criticized for narrowing the educational scope.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, children in schools that fail to meet state standards have the option to transfer to a different school in the district with acceptable standards, and schools themselves face a series of escalating consequences. This legislation mandated that states test students in grades 3–8 in reading and math to assess school performance. Schools that did not make adequate yearly progress (AYP) were designated as needing improvement. Failed success to meet AYP for consecutive years could lead to correctional actions ranging from amending school curricula and teaching staff to potential closure. Moreover, low-income parents could use federal funds to pay for tuition at a qualifying school within the district.
The No Child Left Behind Act aimed to enhance the educational system by requiring high standards and accountability through testing, but it also provoked criticisms due to the emergence of '“teaching to the test,”' a situation where education became narrowly focused on preparing students for standardized tests, often at the expense of a broader educational experience.