New Hampshire District Won't Subject ESL Students To NCLB Testing

The New Hampshire Union Leader (9/28, Hall) reports that the school board in Manchester, New Hampshire, "voted on Monday to end the federally mandated standardized testing of newly arrived immigrants with poor English skills." Foreign students "will not be required for two years to take the annual standardized tests required under the No Child Left Behind law," with that grace period rising to five years if the student has "never been to school before." The Union Leader says that local officials are uncertain what the consequences will be, but hope to work with ED on a compromise.