NCLB: No Waiver? No Problem - Except For California

Don't cry for the states that haven't gotten an NCLB waiver yet -- or haven't requested one.  There's really only just one state I can find -- California -- that has requested a waiver but not gotten one but doesn't also have an AMO freeze in its back pocket.

Several states without waivers have gotten one year freezes on changing their annual measurable objectives -- meaning that they don't have to raise the minimum proficiency scores for AYP as required under AYP.  I'm told that the 8 states that requred and got approved for an AMO freeze for the upcoming year are Alabama  Alaska Maine West Virginia  Idaho Illinois Iowa and Kansas.  South Dakota requested a freeze but then got a waiver.  Wyoming's freeze request is still pending. That leaves 7 states with freezes but not waivers - effectively raising the number of states not operating under the current NCLB.  

As for Iowa's waiver request, I can't find anywhere that the state was rejected (ie told not to bother trying again), and I'm told the state and the USDE have been in touch since the infamous "rejection" letter.  The other 4 states still working on their waiver requests, with various levels of energy, include California, Idaho (has an waiver AMO freeze) Illinois ((has an waiver AMO freeze) and Iowa (has an waiver AMO freeze).   California is the only one with a waiver request but no AMO freeze.   

Comments

[Sarah]

I know Vermont outright refused one until they had more time to examine the legislation, a fact that I was actually proud of my home state for. I think many states are leaping in for the free money involved.