Key dates in the development of No Child Left Behind are listed as follows:

• 1964 - Civil Rights Act requires desegregation of schools
• 1965 - Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) provides first meaningful and substantial financial assistance for local schools and focuses on high poverty areas. Title I is born.
• 1975 - Education of All handicapped Children Act (now IDEA/Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) mandated that all children with disabilities have a right to equal education.
• 1994 - Improving America’s Schools Act (IASA) broadened the accountability system in Title I-Sets national goals and provides funds for development of standards and assessment systems.
• 2001 - No Child Left Behind establishes minimum professional and paraprofessional qualifications and sets goals for all children to reach pre-defined Proficient levels by 2013-2014.