Duncan To "Unilaterally Override" NCLB Proficiency Standards

Education Secretary Arne Duncan's announcement Monday of a plan to offer NCLB waivers to states that have implemented their own accountability metrics generated significant national media coverage today, mainly positively disposed toward ED. The New York Times (8/8, Dillon, Subscription Publication) reports that Duncan "announced that he will unilaterally override" proficiency standards under No Child Left Behind, which mandate that "100 percent of students be proficient in math and reading by 2014." Duncan "told reporters that he was acting because Congress had failed to rewrite the Bush-era law, which he called a 'slow-motion train wreck.'" The Times characterizes the move as "the most sweeping use of executive authority to rewrite federal education law since Washington expanded its involvement in education in the 1960s." Though some conservatives complained of increased Federal involvement in education, "Duncan and White House officials described their plan as offering crucial relief to state and local educators."

The AP (8/8, Blankinship) reports that Congress has not reauthorized the law despite the "begging" of states and localities, adding that Duncan "says he will announce a new waiver system Monday to give schools a break." Duncan will waive NCLB requirements to any state that meets "other school reform requirements." The AP notes that Duncan said that President Obama called for the move, adding that NCLB's yearly standards increases have "caused heartburn in states and most school districts, because more and more schools are labeled as failures as too few of their students meet testing goals." Duncan stated that rather than undermining Congress, ED's flexibility could serve as a catalyst for needed reform. Nevertheless, House Education and the Workforce Chairman John Kline expressed reservations.

 

Contextualizing the Administration's move by noting that states are "rebelling" against NCLB, the Washington Post (8/8, Layton) reports that Duncan will "grant waivers to liberate states from a law that [ED] considers dysfunctional" due to "'universal clamoring' from officials in nearly every state." Duncan and White House domestic policy adviser Melody Barnes promised more details about the plan in September.

 

Politico (8/8, Phillip) notes that President Obama had called on Congress to craft an overhaul to NCLB by September, but "the House and Senate have moved on separate paths at a pace the White House says is not nearly fast enough. Meanwhile, states and local administrators are clamoring to the Department of Education for relief from federal mandates - and the sanctions that threaten to punish schools for not meeting the law's requirements." Meanwhile, Duncan "emphasized that the plan is intended to serve as a 'bridge' or a 'transition' to Congressional action, not a challenge to" it.