Issue Description
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) came up before congress for reauthorization in early 2001 in the form of H.R. 1, The No Child Left Behind Act. HSLDA worked hard to protect homeschoolers from any language in H.R. 1 that would threaten homeschool freedoms and parental rights.

The No Child Left Behind Act passed congress and was signed into law by President Bush in early January 2002, thus reauthorizing ESEA. Although the ESEA was reauthorized, HSLDA was pleased with certain aspects of the final bill including language stating that none of the provisions contained therein should be interpreted as applying to homeschooling. Final language also included a few positive policy steps such as prohibitions on the development of a national test, restrictions on use of federal funds to develop any national curriculum, restrictions on federal teacher certification, the repeal of the Goals 2000 program, and prohibitions on a national database.