Idaho will seek waiver, Luna says

Idaho will be among the first states to apply for a waiver from the federal government to skirt provisions of the No Child Left Behind education law, according to the state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna.

He was among state school officers who were at the White House on Friday as President Barack Obama and U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan gave states guidance on the 9-year-old federal law. Idaho was among a handful of states that vowed earlier this year to ignore the latest No Child Left Behind requirements, saying they set unrealistic benchmarks.

“We’ll absolutely be one of the first states to apply,” Luna said in an interview with the Associated Press.

“I think this is the first step, it’s a symbolic step, but it’s an important first step in turning back the authority and control of running our schools back to the states and away from the federal government,” he said.

Washington officials are reviewing the details of President Barack Obama’s declaration that states can opt out.

A spokesman for the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction said Friday that the agency has not decided whether to seek a waiver. Nathan Olson said officials would prefer to see Congress simply rewrite the law entirely.

Associated Press