WASHINGTON – Today, President Obama announced that Florida will have more flexibility when it comes to the mandates of implementing the No Child Left Behind Act.
“This is great news for students, educators and parents in the Sunshine State and I applaud the President and Secretary Duncan for recognizing the need for a different approach,” said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-20), who was at the White House for the announcement earlier today. “Local educators must have the flexibility to create plans that work best for their students, and not have to follow a one-size-fits-all federal mandate that may not work for every student. We must encourage innovation in developing the 21st century skills needed to be competitive.
“The President’s decision today is a win for public education across the country. While these waivers are welcome, immediate relief, I remain hopeful that Congress will come together in a bi-partisan spirit to pass comprehensive reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act.”
Ten states were granted broader flexibility after demonstrating that they will raise and reform standards and improve accountability among teachers while also implementing a plan to make students college and career-ready. In addition, states must create comprehensive systems of teacher and principal development, evaluation and support that include factors beyond test scores, such as principal observation, peer review, student work, or parent and student feedback. The other states are Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.
In a White House announcement attended by state education officials, teachers, civil rights, and business leaders, the President said that the law is five years overdue for a rewrite and is driving the wrong behaviors - from teaching to the test, to federally determined, one-size-fits-all interventions. The President called on Congress to work across the aisle to fix the law even as his administration offers solutions for states to help prepare all students for college and career readiness.
