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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 29 November 2016
Feds give states more time to bolster struggling schools

JENNIFER C. KERR cide how much weight to
Associated Press give to each of those indi-
WASHINGTON (AP) — cators of success — and
States will have more time others such as school cli-
to identify failing schools mate, advanced course-
as part of new Obama ad- work and chronic absen-
ministration rules aimed at teeism — as long as they
supporting troubled public measure the performance
schools and students who of all students, including
are struggling. “sub-groups of students”
The rules, released Mon- such as racial minorities,
day, provide a broad children from low-income
framework for states as families, and special edu-
they design new account- cation students.
ability systems to evaluate Education Secretary John
schools, to improve ones B. King Jr., says the depart-
that aren’t adequately ment considered concerns
educating students and to from states, Congress, civil
narrow achievement gaps. rights groups, educators
It’s a key part of the biparti- and others in drafting the
san education law passed rules. “That feedback re-
almost one year ago and sulted in a better regula-
signed into law by Presi- tion,” King said in a phone
dent Barack Obama to re- call with reporters.
place the widely criticized Republicans and teachers Education Secretary John King speaks at the White House in Washington. States will have more
No Child Left Behind Act. unions had complained time to identify failing schools under new Obama administration rules finalized Monday.
(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Under the law, states may that the draft rules released
design accountability sys- in May didn’t provide states the Senate Health, Educa- to intervene. Alexander of the regulation “because
tems that consider mea- and districts with sufficient tion, Labor and Pensions — a chief architect of the it was not authorized by
sures beyond test scores time to assess schools in Committee, said he will re- new education law — said the new law, and included
and high school gradua- need of help. Sen. Lamar view the final rules before he would have moved to provisions specifically pro-
tion rates. They may de- Alexander, chairman of deciding if Congress needs overturn the earlier version hibited by the new law.”q