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University of Wisconsin–Madison
Poverty-related issues in the news, from the Institute for Research on Poverty

State Waivers for No Child Left Behind

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  • ‘No Child’ law whittled down by White House, By Motoko Rich, July 6, 2012, New York Times: “In just five months, the Obama administration has freed schools in more than half the nation from central provisions of the No Child Left Behind education law, raising the question of whether the decade-old federal program has been essentially nullified. On Friday, the Department of Education plans to announce that it has granted waivers releasing two more states, Washington and Wisconsin, from some of the most onerous conditions of the signature Bush-era legislation. With this latest round, 26 states are now relieved from meeting the lofty – and controversial – goal of making all students proficient in reading and mathematics by 2014. Additional waivers are pending in 10 states and the District of Columbia…”
  • More than half the states now free from some rules of ‘No Child Left Behind’ education law, Associated Press, July 6, 2012, Washington Post: “The Obama administration said Friday that two more states, Washington and Wisconsin, will be exempted from many requirements of the federal ‘No Child Left Behind’ education law. The decision brings to 26 the number of states granted waivers as Congress remains at a stalemate regarding an overhaul to former President George W. Bush’s signature accomplishment. With more than half of the states now free from many of the law’s requirements, there are questions about the future of No Child Left Behind…”
  • Two more states granted waivers from No Child Left Behind, for total of 26, By Stacy Teicher Khadaroo, July 6, 2012, Christian Science Monitor: “With the approval Friday of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) waivers for Washington State and Wisconsin, more than half the states are now moving forward with their own accountability plans for schools. President Obama directed the US Department of Education last year to start the waiver process to give states flexibility from some parts of the federal law, which has been due for a rewrite since 2007. In exchange, states have to show detailed plans for preparing all students for college and careers, targeting federal aid to the students most in need, and pushing for better evaluation and support of teachers and principals…”