One Less Child Left Behind?

Yesterday’s report is that Utah may be about to opt out of the No Child Left Behind abomination (thanks to Chuck Muth for the pointer). If they do opt out they are saying “thanks, but no thanks to $116 million in federal aid.” “state policy-makers are fed up with federal control of education and dictates.” The Utah legislature appears to be unanimous in wanting to opt out. According to the report, “eight other state legislatures — in Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Vermont and Virginia — are considering challenges to No Child Left Behind.”
One can only hope that this is the beginning of the end for the fraudulently titled “no child left behind” act.
The Washington Times further reports today that state legislators are demanding more flexibility.
Unfortunately, in response the Department of Education seems to have abandoned all principles of federalism: “The Bush administration warned that the national conference’s action ‘could be interpreted as wanting to reverse the progress we’ve made.’ ‘We will not reverse course,’ said Ray Simon, U.S. assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education. ‘Children must be challenged to reach their full potential, not told to settle for someone else’s lowered expectations.'” The administration is going to regret its top-down, one-size-fits-all centralized control.
When is New Mexico going to opt out of NCLB?