Ala. Seeking Waiver From No Child Left Behind

Alabama education officials say they will ask the U.S. Department of Education to give Alabama a waiver from the goal of the No Child Left Behind law to have all students performing at the proficient level in math and reading by 2014. Deputy State Superintendent Sherrill Parris says the state plans to submit the request by early September and expects to get an answer by December. She's optimistic Alabama will get a waiver because 33 states already did. She said Alabama's waiver request will be based on implementing Alabama's new student achievement goals, called Plan 2020. The homegrown plan calls for all high school graduates to be prepared to get a job or pass first-year courses in a university, community college or technical school without remediation. Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.