LAS VEGAS (FOX5) -
The Obama Administration Wednesday approved Nevada's request for flexibility from No Child Left Behind in exchange for state-developed plans to prepare all students for college and career, focused aid on the neediest students and support for effective teaching and leadership.
With the addition of Nevada, 33 states and the District of Columbia have now joined in a nationwide, bipartisan movement toward next-generation education reforms, according to the U.S. Department of Education. The department says reforms go far beyond No Child Left Behind's "rigid, top-down prescriptions." In addition, more than 1 million additional students will be captured in the new state-designed accountability systems, according to the department of education.
"Nevada joins the growing number of states who can't wait any longer for education reform, and we're thrilled that more than 1 million new students will now be protected under these 34 flexibility plans," said Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education. "We still remain hopeful that Congress will come together to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, but we know states need this relief now."
Federal education law has been due for congressional reauthorization since 2007. President Obama announced in September of 2011 that his administration would grant waivers from NCLB to qualified states because congress hadn't taken action.
The first requests for waivers were granted in February of 2012. Four additional requests are still under review, and there is still time for other states to apply. States have until Sept. 6, 2012 to apply for the next round of waivers.
The 33 states (plus the District of Columbia) that have been approved for waivers from NCLB include: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
The four states with outstanding requests for waivers include California, Idaho, Illinois and Iowa.
The 13 states (plus Puerto Rico) that have not yet requested a waiver through this process include: Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Texas, Vermont (request withdrawn), West Virginia and Wyoming.
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