What was the primary objective of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001?

The primary objective of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 was to set high standards and measurable goals for education. This legislation aimed to ensure that all children, regardless of their background, had access to a quality education by holding schools accountable for students' academic performance. It introduced standardized testing as a means to assess student progress and school performance, ultimately seeking to narrow the achievement gap between different groups of students.

By focusing on measurable goals, the Act encouraged states to develop their own educational standards and assessments while ensuring that schools made sufficient yearly progress in improving student learning outcomes. This emphasis on accountability and measurable success was central to the law's intention to enhance educational equity across the nation.