Ala. seeking waiver from No Child Left Behind

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama will ask the U.S. Department of Education for a waiver from the No Child Left Behind law, which seeks to have all students performing at the proficient level for their grades in math and reading by 2014.

Deputy State Superintendent Sherrill Parris said Thursday the state plans to submit the request by early September and expects an answer by December. She’s optimistic Alabama will receive a waiver because more than half the states already have. Alabama is basing its request on the state’s development of a student achievement plant that Alabama officials say is better than the 2001 federal law.