Alaska Receives Partial Waiver of No Child Left Behind Act

Tools

By Reba Lean - Fairbanks Daily News-Miner / rlean@newsminer.com

Story Created: Jul 7, 2012 at 11:29 AM AKDT

Story Updated: Jul 7, 2012 at 11:30 AM AKDT

FAIRBANKS — The federal government granted Alaska a one-year waiver from increasing student proficiency standards through the No Child Left Behind Act.

The U.S. Department of Education is allowing the state to use the 2010-2011 proficiency targets in calculating its progress in the coming school year.

Rep. Bob Miller, D-Fairbanks, released a statement in favor of the progress toward a larger waiver from the “one-size-fits-all requirements.” He introduced a resolution prompting the governor to apply for a waiver during the legislative session.

“The state’s efforts to set its own standards and take the opportunity to opt out of No Child Left Behind are working, and the federal government’s decision to grant the first part of our request is an encouraging step in Alaska’s efforts to maintain local control of our schools and our children’s education,” he said.

Fairbanks North Star Borough School District Superintendent Pete Lewis said the partial waiver is a step in the right direction.

“There will be more schools who will make (annual measurable objective) progress,” he said, but there are still dozens of targets for the schools to reach.

“The system is one that needs to be adjusted,” he said.

The State Board of Education and Early Development will consider a regulation allowing the waiver at its July 24 meeting.

The partial waiver will allow the state to prepare for a more comprehensive waiver application, which it will submit Sept. 6. The waiver would give the power of measuring student success to the state if the state can develop a system of accountability.

The measurements of adequate yearly progress from 2010-2011 will be released in August.

Contact Fairbanks Daily News-Miner staff writer Reba Lean at 907-459-7523.

You have indicated this comment should be removed.

Close

The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .

Anonymous said on Saturday, Jul 7 at 11:43 AM

that is a joke...especially in the Valley...we have families that face discrimination and adversity and bullying from officials because of racial and economic bigotry...if they don't like you or your kid you are screwed...homeschool is the best thing! then the funds go to your child not the school to ingest it and spit your kid out!

95789086
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

KTVA CBS 11 | Anchorage, Alaska News and Weather and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.