WA Loses No Child Left Behind Waiver

The state of Washington has had its waiver from implementing No Child Left Behind taken away. The unpopular Bush-era standards-based education reform law ties funding to testing at certain grade levels. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said Thursday that the waiver would not be renewed because the state has not followed through on promises it made on teacher and principal evaluation. As a result, the state will no longer have flexibility when it comes to spending $40 million in federal funds. A total of 43 states have been approved for waivers. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee laid the blame at the state legislature’s feet, pointing out that the changes required for the waiver needed legislative action which the body failed to act upon.