(Image Source: TIME)

 

BY MILA MIMICA

 

 

ANCHOR LAUREN ZIMA

 

 

Eleven states have filed for waivers to opt out of provisions of the No Child Left Behind law.  In return, they agreed to adopt higher educational standards, as well as other elements of the Obama administration’s education agenda.

In September, the Department of Education predicted as many as 82 percent of schools could miss standardized testing targets. In response, President Obama announced the waiver option in an attempt to close the achievement gap.

The New York Times reports -- the waivers aim to allow states to better cater to their students’ specific needs.

“Under the waiver program, states must set performance targets so students who graduate high school are ready for college or to join the military or the workforce. In exchange, schools ... will be free to evaluate student progress using multiple measures, rather than just test scores.”

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Georgia, which has been plagued by cheating scandals, could benefit from the waiver.

“If nothing else, relying on multiple elements to determine schools’ progress should help reduce any incentive to cheat. Using a multi-part measurement tool should give the state, local school districts, parents and taxpayers a much more thorough and detailed measure of how our schools are performing.”

An editorial in Lincoln’s Journal Star pointed out states applying for the waiver, like Nebraska, won’t completely escape the federal government’s eye.

“It sounds good. But with federal money, there always are strings attached. Hopefully, the new strings won't strangle states and schools more than the old ones did.”

Another state considering, but not yet committed to the waivers -- California. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson told the LA Times applying for the waiver would cost the struggling Golden State two billion dollars.

"It seems like this is very costly. The deadline is very tight if not impossible”

The next deadline for filing a waiver will be in mid-February.  The Department of Education says about 30 more states are expected to apply.