York, PA- Some local school district officials cautiously welcomed the idea of flexibility on the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind law, saying they want more details on how proposed relief would work.Since the law took effect in 2002, educators have contended that its goal of having 100 percent of students passing standardized reading and math tests by 2014, while noble, is unrealistic. The law aimed to improve student achievement through increased accountability for schools.
Last week, the U.S. Department of Education, citing a lack of action from Congress to reauthorize the law, announced that it will create a process to allow states to ask that some of the requirements be waived.
The law requires a certain percentage of students at individual schools and districts to meet progress targets on annual math and reading exams, with the bar rising over the years. By 2014, schools are required to have 100 percent of students scoring proficient or better on the tests.
The department said Monday it will allow states to apply for waivers from some requirements provided the states embrace other education reforms.
Details on the waivers have not been released and are not expected until September. But the department said the package would reflect goals similar to those in the administration’s proposal for fixing No Child Left Behind, such as an accountability system based on measuring student growth.
The flexibility would have the most impact starting in the 2012-13 school year, according to the department.
Some local officials were receptive to the idea. Read More
