In exchange for the strong accountability, No Child Left Behind gives states and local education agencies (LEAs) or school districts, more flexibility in the use of their federal education funding.  It strives to eliminate some of the bureaucracy and “red tape” and allows for more state and local control.  For more detailed information about how states and districts may spend their federal dollars visit, www.ed.gov/nclb/freedom/local/local.html

Did You Know?

Most federal funds are sent directly to states and local school districts for their use in schools.

President Bush's FY 2005 budget would provide $38.7 billion for K-12 education. Of that amount, 95 percent would be distributed either directly to local districts or to schools through their states. Individual schools then use these funds for the purposes defined in the programs.

• ESEA Title I: $13.3 billion

• IDEA Part B: $11.1 billion

• Improving Teacher Quality: $2.9 billion

• English Language Learners: $587.4 million

• Impact Aid (schools impacted by military bases and other facilities): $1.2 billion

• Vocational Education (skills training): $1 billion

This and other facts about K-12 education funding can be found in the U.S. Department of Education's brochure, "10 Facts About K-12 Education Funding."

Taken from : NCLB EXTRA CREDIT  July 19, 2004. NCLB Extra Credit is a regular look at the No Child Left Behind Act, President Bush's landmark education reform initiative passed with bipartisan support in Congress.