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EdNews: State Makes Its Waiver Bid

EdNews Colorado

The Colorado Department of Education on Monday filed its formal application for waiver from some provisions of the federal No Child Left Behind law, asking for exemption from NCLB’s requirements for Adequate Yearly Progress and for greater flexibility in spending of some federal funds.

The application has been in the works for more than three months, with Colorado among the parade of states seeking waivers from the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which was modified in 2001 with passage of the NCLB law.

Key points of Colorado’s application include:

  • Allowing the state to use its own accreditation and rating system for districts and schools in place of AYP. The state system, created in 2009, basically sets a five-year horizon for the lowest-rated schools and districts to improve.
  • Increased flexibility in using federal funds to target them to a broader selection of struggling schools than is allowed under NCLB.
  • More control over the designation of highly qualified teachers, another part of NCLB that has created problems for states and districts.
  • Flexibility in requirements and programs for English language learners.

The full article and links to both the Colorado Department of Education application summary and full application can be found at Education News Colorado. [source: Todd Engdahl, State Makes Its Waiver Bid]

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