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Education Dept. Extends More 'No Child Left Behind 'Waivers

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The Obama administration is giving Kansas more flexibility from the requirements of the Bush-era No Child Left Behind education law.

In addition to the nation's capital, Education Secretary Arne Duncan has renewed waivers for Kansas, as well as six other states and the District of Columbia. Current law requires standardized tests in reading and math to measure student progress. With the waivers, schools will be able come up with different ways to demonstrate improvement.

The 2002 landmark law required annual testing and put consequences into place for schools that didn't show progress. It led to complaints that teachers were forced to teach to the tests, and that some of the mandates weren't realistic.

Forty-two states and the District of Columbia have waivers.

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