Georgia Freed From No Child Left Behind Law

Updated 6:26 p.m., Feb. 9, 2012

Georgia is among the 10 states that will be freed from the No Child Left Behind law, according to various media reports Thursday.

Among the controversial provisions of the law, which was signed into law by President George W. Bush, was one that required all students to be proficient in reading and math by 2014.

Obama's action strips away that requirement for those approved for flexibility, provided they offer a viable plan instead. Under the deal, states must show they will prepare children for college and careers, set new targets for improving achievement among all students, reward the best performing schools and focus on the ones doing the worst.

This will have an effect on Gwinnett County public schools, which is Georgia's largest system (162,000 students) and has its headquarters in Suwanee.

According to the Huffington Post, Obama had called Bush's most hyped domestic accomplishment an admirable but flawed effort that hurt students instead of helping them. Obama said action was necessary because Congress failed to update the law despite widespread bipartisan agreement that it needed fixing.

Gwinnett County Public School Superintendent Alvin Wilbanks said Georgia's waiver will address several concerns that schools in the state have had regarding NCLB and Adequate Yearly Progress requirements.

"The overall metrics will be much broader and comprehensive, providing a more realistic indication of how schools are performing," Wilbanks said in a released statement. "While the waiver removes the requirement that all students be
proficient in reading and math by 2014, there is accountability that students will be prepared for college and careers and that schools will be focused on improving achievement among all students. That is consistent with our efforts in Gwinnett to close the achievement gap and ensure success for all students."