In the United States, education plays a vital role for the government. Drafting the Constitution was a major interest of our founding fathers, because our democracy relies on an educated society. John Adams once said, “Education for every class and rank, down to the lowest and poorest.” Our founding fathers not only wanted education for the upper classes, but also for the lower classes. Education is essential to the development and prosperity of our country. This strengthened American financial and administrative leadership. Recognizing the importance of education, the federal government assumed a greater role in funding public schools with the passage of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) in 1965, which over the years has been subject to various reauthorizations. In 2001, reauthorizations included the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, which required states to set standards for student performance as well as teacher quality. This law contributes to educational progress in schools because it improves the comprehensiveness and equity of American education. The NCLB law was signed by former President George Bush in 2002, and was created to improve student and achievement gaps. In the article “No Child Left Behind and the Transformation of Federal Education Policy,” Patrick J. McGuinn exclaimed, “No Child Left Behind is an attempt by the federal government to regulate education policy in all 50 states” (Patrick McGuinn, 2007). , p. 370). It is also designed to ensure that all students can achieve high standards from all states that include students with disabilities. Before the passage of NCLB, students with disabilities were excluded from school assessments. Now that act was... middle of paper ......Federalism. Backgrounder No. 2044. Margaret E. Goertz Heritage Foundation. Peabody Journal of Education, Vol. 80, no. 2, Federalism reconsidered: the case of the No Child Left Behind law (2005), pp. 73-89 Talley, RC, Walz, GR, National Education Goals Panel, WC, ERIC Clearinghouse on Counseling and Student Services, GC, and National Student Services Alliance, O. n. (1996). Safe schools, safe students. Proceedings of the National Education Goals Panel/National Alliance of Pupil Services Organizations Conference on “Safe Schools, Safe Students: A Collaborative Approach to Achieving Safe, Disciplined, Drug-Free Schools Conducive to Learning” (Washington, DC , October 28 and 29, 1994). William Paul Wanker and Kathy Christie. Peabody Journal of Education, Vol. 80, no. 2, Federalism reconsidered: the case of the No Child Left Behind law (2005), pp.. 57-72