WASHINGTON – Congressman John Yarmuth (KY-3) joined President Obama at the White House this afternoon for the announcement that Kentucky has been granted a waiver from No Child Left Behind standards and can move ahead with its own education reforms.

“I’m happy to join the President at the White House today to announce his decision to grant Kentucky relief from standards that we know are unreasonable,” Yarmuth said. “Our state has developed innovative reforms to chart students’ success. We know that education is not one-size-fits-all, and I’m glad the President is recognizing the Commonwealth’s leadership in implementing core curriculum standards that better prepare our students for college and their careers.”

The decision clears the way for Kentucky to continue ongoing reforms to improve accountability and close student achievement gaps. Without having to meet a strict federal mandate that set performance targets for 2014, Kentucky schools will be better able to adapt to student needs and have more flexibility in how they spend federal education funds.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan, who met with Yarmuth in Louisville in November, said No Child Left Behind reduces standards, weakens accountability, narrows curriculums, and brands too many schools as failing. He called the federal performance mandate “unworkable.”