Write to the Point NCLB waiver will help schools, now it's up to state leaders to push reform

By BECKY THOMAS

Staff Reporter

As countless people have said before, the goals of No Child Left Behind are admirable. Nobody disagrees that proficiency in reading and math for every student would be a great thing. The problem with NCLB is its stringent goal to meet that 100 percent proficiency rate by 2014, and the punishments doled out to local school districts that can't keep up with the steps to that 100 percent.

That's why President Obama was right to offer states some flexibility, just as Washington state schools Superintendent Randy Dorn was right earlier this month when he announced he...