Texas Still Undecided on NCLB
On September 23, President Obama outlined his plan to grant exemptions to states unable to meet the higher testing standards of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. States will now be allowed to apply for waivers, enabling them to essentially “opt out” of some portions of the law, including the requirement that all students must show proficiency in reading and math by 2014. The Obama administration believes the waiver plan gives states flexibility related to the use of federal education funds and the flexibility to pursue state-based plans for improvement and accountability. In exchange for approval, the application for the waiver or “ESEA Flexibility Request” outlines policies each state educational agency must pursue or show intent of pursuing that “improve educational outcomes for all students, close achievement gaps, increase equity, and improve the quality of instruction.”
To receive waivers of NCLB requirements, states must develop a plan to show they:
- have already adopted college and career-ready standards in reading/language arts and mathematics designed to raise the achievement of all students, including English learners and students with disabilities;
- can establish a differentiated recognition, accountability and support system that gives credit for progress towards college and career-readiness; and
- will set basic guidelines for teacher and principal evaluation and support systems.
State education agencies seeking a waiver must make their intent known to the DOE by October 12, 2011 and submit a completed application by November 14, 2011.
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has not yet formally announced if they will apply for a waiver on federal accountability requirements. TEA spokeswoman Suzanne Marchman indicated Education Commissioner Robert Scott’s position remains the same as it did this summer; he will not commit Texas either way until more details are known on the plan’s implementation, according to media reports. During a discussion on “Why Accountability Matters” at the Tribune Festival on September 25, Commissioner Scott said he’s not sure he’s willing to hand over control of the state’s curriculum to the U.S. Department of Education in order to get No Child Left Behind waivers from the feds.
For more information: http://www.ed.gov/blog/2011/09/obama-administration-offers-flexibility-from-no-child-left-behind/ and ED.gov’s ESEA Flexibility page.