(Image source: Wikimedia Commons)
BY ALYSSA CARTEE
ANCHOR LAUREN GORES
“No Child Left Behind” gets left behind. President Obama announced he’s granting 10 states waivers to escape the education reform requirements. The plan was one of President Bush’s largest reforms and was widely criticized for being unrealistic and too rigid.
When The Today show reported the announcement, the show suggested the states involved had been trying to make this happen for a very long time.
“By dropping the Bush era policy, the ten states including Colorado, Florida and New Jersey will get the leeway on student preparation they have been requesting for years.”
But as CNN reports, the states had to give a little to get a little.
“In return, those states have agreed to raise standards for providing student achievement, provide more accountability, and provide essential reforms to teacher effectiveness.”
A blogger for Fox News writes although Congress couldn’t find a better resolution to the problems in the bill, some lawmakers are still not happy.
“The executive action will circumvent Congress, which has been stuck on how to rewrite the law. … Republicans have charged that by granting waivers, Obama was overreaching his authority.”
While some are criticizing the waivers saying it’s a loss of focus on education, Mom-blog ‘The Stir’ says the flexibility is a good thing.
“NCLB was too rigid. I think it’s important that we have high standards and continue reaching higher to prepare our students for their future — but we have to do that in a way that really will bring out the best in our educators and students.”
Chicago Now points out the waivers may make strange political allies.
“Interestingly the waiver process unites progressives who want NCLB dismantled much more than waivers would allow and conservatives who want responsibility for education sent back to the states and fear that promised flexibility won't be meaningful.”
28 other states have expressed interest in a more flexible education plan outside of “No Child Left Behind.” Among the states getting waivers — Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey and Tennessee.
