The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) amends and changes programs from the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Although the main component of this bill is Title I, it also highlights teacher education quality. NCLB was accompanied, for fiscal year 2002, by the largest increase ever in federal education aid, targeting federal resources to support state and local school improvement efforts for children most at risk, with an emphasis on reading instruction. This Digest presents definitions used in Title IX: highly qualified teacher, beginning teacher, professional development, core academic subjects, and scientifically based research. It describes accountability, explaining that states receiving Title I aid through NCLB must develop yearly report cards documenting students' success in meeting NCLB achievement goals. States must also advise the federal government of the number of teachers who are not fully licensed, are teaching under an emergency credential or license waiver, and are not teaching in the field in which they were prepared and have demonstrated competence. Districts must offer parents information on the professional qualifications of classroom teachers. In November 2002, the Department of Education released its final regulations regarding NCLB, clarifying that states can integrate adequate yearly progress into their existing accountability systems and that all core subject teachers must be highly qualified by 2005-06. (SM)