**GAO-04-909**                      Published: Sep 23, 2004. Publicly Released: Sep 23, 2004.                  

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## Highlights

To improve the academic achievement of the nation's 48 million school-aged children, the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLBA) introduced significant changes to state, district, and school accountability for student performance and teacher qualifications. Congress has raised concerns about difficulties rural districts face implementing NCLBA. GAO is providing NCLBA implementation information on (1) key challenges rural states and districts face, (2) strategies rural districts have developed, (3) expenditures and resources related to rural districts' compliance, and (4) guidance and assistance the Department of Education (Education) is providing. To address these objectives, GAO conducted a nationally representative survey of rural and nonrural school districts. Also GAO interviewed officials in rural states and districts and Education officials.

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## Topics

Education

Academic achievementAid for educationMentoringEducation or training costsEducational standardsEducational testingElementary school studentsPerformance measuresPersonnel qualificationsRural schoolsSchool districtsSecondary school studentsTeacher educationTeachers