That brings the total number of states receiving waivers to 26 -- more than half. Another 10 states currently have waiver applications pending with the U.S. Department of Education (see map). The Washington and Wisconsin waivers were announced Friday by the department.
To receive a waiver, states must commit to various reforms outlined by the White House, such as setting new student achievement goals and developing plans for intervening at struggling schools. In exchange, they are relieved from some of NCLB's more onerous requirements, particularly that 100 percent of students be proficient in math and reading by 2014.
Fourteen states are yet to apply for a waiver, although several of those have indicated that they will. Sept. 6 is the next deadline for waiver applications.
The waiver program was initiated last fall by the Obama administration, as NCLB reauthorization bills failed to gain traction in Congress. The law has been due for reauthorization since 2007.
Governing is tracking the NCLB waiver process in the map below.
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Application approved |
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Application approval pending |
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Intend to submit application |
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No application submitted |
NOTE: Alaska has not submitted an application and Hawaii intends to submit one. Information is current as of July 2012.