Arizona granted No Child Left Behind waiver

PHOENIX - The U.S. Secretary of Education will announce a waiver Thursday for Arizona to opt out of No Child Left Behind.

The program that was put in place by President George W. Bush was designed to increase accountability at schools.

It drastically expanded the federal role in testing schools and rating students.

That sounded like a good idea to many, but federal funding was tied to those scores.

States granted waivers will be exempt from the law's requirement that all students be proficient in math and reading by 2014 -- a goal the nation is still far from reaching.

In its place, the Education Department has approved state plans aimed at improving low-performing schools, increasing teacher efficiency and preparing students for college and careers.

Kansas, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon and South Carolina, along with Washington, D.C. are a part of the announcement Thursday.

Thirty-two states have been granted waivers.

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