As educators from many school districts are opposed to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), the U.S. Department of Education provides them with an opportunity to receive relief from the law's strict standards. According to the Department's website, states can request flexibility from NCLB by providing plans that detail specific measures for improving students' academic achievement, such as the adoption and implementation of the Common Core State Standards.
In California, nine school districts recently applied for a NCLB waiver in the hopes that they could focus on preparing students for the future with a level of flexibility NCLB does not offer, the Fresno Bee reported.
According to Michael Hanson, superintendent of the Fresno Unified School District, NCLB is "too narrow." Hanson also told the news source that the Act fails to take the entire child, school and academic climate into account.
Although California applied for a two-year waiver in 2011, the Golden State was rejected. As school districts are now allowed to apply for relief, the nine school systems hope they will stand a better chance.
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