COMMENTARY | The Obama administration announced today that 10 states will get a waiver from the stringent requirements of the Bush-era "No Child Left Behind Act." It's the beginning of the end for NCLB, unless Congress passes a bipartisan reform of the controversial education law.
Critics of Obama's decision cried foul. Minnesota Congressman John Kline, whose state was one that sought and received a waiver, claimed Obama was imposing his will on them, while the president merely allowed states more flexibility to meet the standards in the best way they see fit.
Obama contended NCLB was well-intentioned, though poorly executed. But Republican opponents are sure to see this as a case of a president from one party undoing the popular work of a prior president. It would wipe away the Bush legacy.
But the states sought the waivers. Of the 11 states that sought waivers, seven are led by Republican governors. Another on that list voted for John McCain in 2008. This is hardly a plot solely hatched by Democrat governors to embarrass George W. Bush.
The list of states that are seeking relief encompasses the political spectrum. According to the Gallup Polling firm's analysis of state ideologies (from most conservative to least conservative) these NCLB waiver states include Oklahoma (seventh most conservative) to Tennessee (10th), Georgia (17th), Indiana (19th), Kentucky (22nd), Colorado (27th), Florida (28th), Minnesota (33rd), New Jersey (46th) and Massachusetts. New Mexico (29th) applied for a waiver, and is working with the Obama administration to revise it. Liberal, moderate and conservative states are united against NCLB.
Nor is this waiver policy simply election-year politics. According to Georgia State School Superintendent John Barge, this process began last year. Waivers had to be revised to meet standards. Many of these states pushing for reform also received or sought "Race to the Top" grants.
Critics of Obama's flexibility approach to state education policy might claim this just represents only 11 states. But another 28 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have also said they plan to seek waivers, and three other populous states are considering it.
A bipartisan compromise could rescue NCLB with a series of much-needed reforms. Democrats seem willing, but angry Republicans like Kline seem to leave no room for negotiation, bitter that Obama's plan goes around Congress. And that will only hasten the demise of NCLB, Bush's most enduring piece of legislation.
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