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For immediate release:
Jan. 18, 2012

State’s request for No Child Left Behind flexibility available for public review and comment

TOPEKA – Kansas is preparing to seek a waiver from some of the provisions of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act and the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is requesting public comment on its plans for accountability should the request be granted. The state’s waiver application is available on the KSDE website (www.ksde.org/Default.aspx?tabid=5075) and questions and comments can be shared at waiver@ksde.org.

To assist individuals in understanding the elements of the state’s request, a free webinar will be conducted at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 26. Information on accessing the webinar is available on the KSDE website.

Last September, President Obama announced his intent to grant NCLB waivers to states that met specific criteria. Under a waiver, states would not be required to demonstrate that all students had achieved proficiency in reading and math by 2014, and schools and districts would no longer be identified as “on improvement” and subject to the specific sanctions outlined in the legislation. To receive that flexibility, states are required to complete the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Flexibility Request and address four principles:

• college- and career-ready expectations for all students;
• state-developed differentiated recognition, accountability and support;
• supporting effective instruction and leadership; and
• reducing duplication and unnecessary burden.
Principle two of the request involves outlining a plan for holding schools, districts and the state accountable for student achievement, as well as recognizing high performing schools and providing support for the state’s lowest performing schools. The Kansas plan calls for holding schools accountable based on multiple measures, including student achievement, student growth and reduction of the achievement gap. That process, as well as evidence to support the other three principles, is outlined in the state’s flexibility request.

Kansas will submit its flexibility request to the U.S. Department of Education on Feb. 21, 2012.

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