STATES’ PERSPECTIVES ON WAIVERS: New CEP Report Finds That States Appreciate Relief from NCLB, Express Concern About Long-Term Solutions Article
March 25, 2013States are optimistic that waivers will help ease some of the unrealistic requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and improve learning for all students, but they also have concerns.
A STEP FORWARD OR A STEP BACK?: New Education Trust Report Finds “A Lot of Backsliding” in States’ Approved NCLB Waiver Plans Article
February 25, 2013A new report from the Education Trust finds that, by granting states waivers from certain requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act, the U.S. Department of Education “opened the door for some innovation” but also allowed for “a lot of backsliding” on the nation’s commitment to close gaps and raise achievement for all students.

TURNING BACK THE CLOCK?: ESEA Waivers Could Slow Progress on High School Graduation Rate Accountability, New Alliance Analysis Finds Article
February 25, 2013An extensive analysis by the Alliance for Excellent Education shows that recent progress in holding schools accountable for how many students they graduate from high school—the ultimate goal of K–12 education—may be slowed in some states based on waivers recently granted under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), currently known as the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).
Five States To Reimagine the School Day, Increase Classroom Time by 300 Hours Article
December 10, 2012Five states—Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and Tennessee—will participate in a pilot initiative to extend teaching time by 300 hours over the school year under a $3 million collaborative with the Ford Foundation and the National Center on Time and Learning.
SUMMER WAIVE(RS): Six Additional States and the District of Columbia Receive NCLB Waivers; To Date, Thirty-Two States and DC Have Received Waivers Article
July 23, 2012Only July 19, the Obama administration granted additional flexibility under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, currently known as the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) to six additional states (Arizona, Kansas, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon, and South Carolina) and the District of Columbia (DC) in exchange for state-led reform in the areas of college- and career-ready standards, accountability and improvement, and teacher evaluation.
INCLUSION OF “DEEPER LEARNING” COMPETENCIES VARIES IN STATE WAIVER APPLICATIONS, NEW ALLIANCE REPORT FINDS: Report Argues That Students Need Deeper Learning Skills to Graduate from High School Ready for College and a Career Article
May 14, 2012State applications for waivers under the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act vary in the degree to which “deeper learning” skills are reflected in the standards, accountability systems, professional development, and teacher evaluations proposed by states, according to a new report from the Alliance for Excellent Education.

CATCH THE WAIVE: Eleven States Receive Flexibility Under NCLB in Exchange for Reform Article
February 21, 2012Eleven states will receive flexibility under the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act in exchange for their commitment to raise standards, improve accountability, and undertake essential reforms to improve teacher effectiveness.
WAIVING AWAY HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE ACCOUNTABILITY?: State NCLB Waiver Proposals Threaten to Weaken Accountability for High School Graduation Rates Article
January 23, 2012In September 2011, with the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)—currently known as the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act—stalled in the U.S. Congress, President Obama outlined a plan to provide states flexibility within specific provisions of the law in exchange for state-led reform efforts to close achievement gaps, evaluate teachers and principals, promote rigorous accountability, and ensure that all students are on track to graduate ready for college and a career.
Accountability, College- and Career-Ready Standards, Colorado, Elementary & Secondary Education Act, Florida, Georgia, High School Graduation Rates and Secondary School Improvement, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, NCLB Waivers, New Jersey, New Mexico, No Child Left Behind, Oklahoma, Tennessee
HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN KLINE RELEASES DRAFT LEGISLATION ON ACCOUNTABILITY AND TEACHER EFFECTIVENESS Article
January 09, 2012On January 6, U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce Chairman John Kline (R-MN) released two draft pieces of legislation on accountability and teacher effectiveness as part of the committee’s work to overhaul the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), currently known as the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act.