Illinois approved for No Child Left Behind waiver
SPRINGFIELD - Illinois has obtained a waiver from some parts of federal No Child Left Behind education law.
The waiver will give the state more flexibility when it comes to setting standards for education. It also will let the state look at measures beyond test scores in determining whether schools are succeeding or failing.
Illinois first applied for the waiver in 2012. It wasn't initially approved because Illinois took longer than a number of other states to implement a new teacher evaluation system.
State Education Superintendent Christopher Koch says the waiver allows Illinois to work with local districts to do what's best for students.
More than 40 states and the District of Columbia have also been granted waivers.
No Child Left Behind has been due for reauthorization by Congress since 2007.