On January 8, 2002, President Bush signed into law the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)of 2001, often referred to as the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001. The act governs the allocation of federal funds to local school divisions, including, in the Arlington Public Schools: Title I (to improve basic programs and reading skills), Title II (to support professional and paraprofessional training and technology), and Title III (English language acquisition)  ESEA includes guidelines on school performance goals, assessments, reporting, staff qualifications, and parent involvement.

ESEA does not replace Virginia’s accreditation system. Virginia is a national leader in implementing high academic standards and measures to hold schools accountable for achievement through objective measurement with the Standards of Learning (SOL) tests. Additionally, the ESEA parallels two of the Arlington Public Schools’ strategic goals of raising achievement for all students while eliminating the gap in achievement among certain groups of students. Arlington Public Schools is committed to meeting the goals of ESEA by continuing efforts to improve student achievement for all students.