University of Michigan and Swarthmore College researchers say the academic impact of the No Child Left Behind initiative has been a mixed bag. According to a press release from the University of Michigan:
"The research indicates that the NCLB reforms generated statistically significant increases in the average math performance of 4th graders as well as improvements at the lower and top achievement percentiles. There was also evidence of improvements in 8th grade math achievement, particularly among traditionally low-achieving groups and at the lower percentiles. However, the authors find no evidence that NCLB increased reading achievement in either 4th or 8th grade."