DPI To Seek Waiver From Feds

North Carolina will be one of the states seeking a waiver from the Department of Education, exempting it from parts of No Child Left Behind. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced this week that he will allow some states to opt out of the controversial education law.

State Superintendent June Atkinson says educators have become increasingly unhappy with No Child Left Behind's all-or-nothing system of judging schools.

June Atkinson: "We see general agreement with the accountability system needs the be changed, but there's yet to be any action, so consequently I think that the only avenue we have at this moment is to file waivers with the U.S. Department of Education."

Atkinson says the waiver will allow the state to use its own accountability system that focuses on student growth.