SEATTLE (AP) — Washington’s application for a waiver from the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Law will focus on efforts to close the state’s achievement gap.
The federal government has already approved all 11 of the applications from other states wanting a break from the federal student achievement law. No Child Left Behind requires every kid in the nation to show they can do reading and math at grade level by 2014.
Those with a waiver, get a break from that deadline. Washington has until Feb. 28 to apply.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn says the state will ask the federal government to let it focus instead on gaps between different groups of students. He says the plan would take aim at the kids most in need of extra help.
