AYER -- When former President Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act in January 2002, the new law was lauded as "a landmark in education reform." But it was also viewed as one more un-funded mandate.

In Massachusetts, the Education Reform Act had already made sweeping changes to the status quo about a decade before, including the establishment of School Choice, school councils and charter schools.

But like earlier state programs aimed at ed reform, NCLB has cut both ways as schools across the state that stepped up to meet its requirements are improving as a result.

In the Ayer Public Schools, supplemental education services must be provided this year at Page Hilltop Elementary School, which was placed in the "needs improvement" category under NCLB and fell short of its required average yearly progress goal over a three-year period.

Curriculum Director Mary Beth Hamel updated the School Committee at its Feb. 3 meeting on work in progress toward achieving that goal at Page Hilltop, aided by a $127,000 grant, 20 percent of which had to be set aside for the purpose.

Basically, it means hiring tutors for students eligible under the program; that is, those not receiving special education services but who may be lagging behind, especially fourth and fifth graders struggling with core subjects such as English and math. With more sign-ups than slots available, financial need was another criteria for priority placement in the program, Hamel said.

The outreach was based on MCAS data, parent input and teacher recommendations about which subjects to focus on, she said.

The chosen provider is Club Z Tutoring Services, which has a proven track record, Hamel said, and she checked references. "I'm impressed with what I've seen so far," she said.

A 30-page contract spells out the details of work that tutors, all of whom will have passed a stringent background check, will do, either in school after classes or in students' homes.

But students must do their part, too. "They must be committed," she said. "There's a strict attendance policy."

Hamel said the program should begin in about two weeks and parents she's heard from are enthusiastic about it. Some were surprised and gratified to be offered free tutoring for their children without having asked for it, she said.

All things considered, NCLB seems to have set its sights in the right direction. "It really is an attempt to leave no child behind," Hamel said.