Think that a web-based, standards-friendly library is out of financial reach for your school or district? Think again! Despite today's tough economic climate, some schools and districts are using federal funds to support the purchase of Follett Software products to improve access to quality library resources and match their resources to state standards.

The reauthorized Elementary and Secondary Education Act - better known as No Child Left Behind (NCLB) - makes billions of dollars in new funding available to schools. The challenge is securing the funding because NCLB places strict requirements on states, districts and schools to meet academic achievement standards. Some Follett Software solutions are an ideal application of these funds. Listed here are some NCLB programs and the products that correspond with select NCLB goals.

NCLB Goals	NCLB Funding Opportunities	Follett Software Solution
Libraries and Literacy	A primary goal of NCLB is to ensure every child is reading at an appropriate grade level. The result - improved reading scores.	Destiny™: Helps further this goal by quickly pointing students to appropriate and interesting books which help promote good reading practice.
Money Targeted for Libraries	Improving Literacy Through School Libraries (Title I Part B) Offers grants to improve reading achievement by providing students with increased access to up-to-date school library materials, including well-equipped, technologically advanced school library media centers.	Destiny™: Offers expanded access to district library resources for all students, staff and teachers from anywhere. State Standards and WebPath Express™: Access anytime, anywhere to standards-aligned library materials and web sites via the Internet. (See related article in this newsletter.)
Connecting Home and School	Enhancing Education Through Technology (Title II Part D) Targets use of technology to increase parent involvement in schools. Research has shown that a student's reading ability is directly linked to the support of reading at home. Intended to improve student achievement through the use of technology.	Destiny™: Provides easy, at-home access to the school's library collection, which facilitates parent involvement in and support of their child's education. Ease-of-use and accessibility through the Internet builds student technological literacy while making it easier for teachers to locate materials to help them teach state content standards. State Standards and WebPath Express™: Align both library materials and web sites to specific state standards, providing your teachers and staff the tools they need to teach to state content standards.
Innovative Programs	Innovative Programs (Title V Part A) Innovation and educational improvement, including library support programs.	State Standards and WebPath Express™: Teachers are provided with appropriate and standards-aligned resources to develop meaningful curriculum.

Read how one district used No Child Left Behind funds to improve their library services in a time of shrinking budgets.

Additional resources for No Child Left Behind information and other education-related articles: