STATEMENT: CAP’s Brown on Obama Education Waiver Announcement

Washington, D.C. — Today, Cynthia G. Brown, Vice President for Education Policy at the Center for the American Progress, issued the following statement regarding the announcement that 10 states will be given waivers that free them from certain requirements of the No Child Left Behind law:

Today’s announcement shows that federal policy can and does foster education reform. The reform train is moving in the states, and federal policy has been a driving force. Yet the Department of Education must be courageous to ensure that change results in better outcomes for students and not just relief for adults.

Twenty-eight states intend to apply for a second-round waiver later this month. Combined with today’s winners, 39 states have responded positively to the administration’s invitation to improve their education systems. This is a positive sign, but the Department of Education should be vigilant in oversight to ensure that states carry out ambitious plans that hold schools accountable for getting results with all students.

To speak to Cynthia Brown about this topic, contact Katie Peters at kpeters@americanprogress.org or 202.741.6286.

See also:

• Education Waivers 101: Eight Questions You Should Ask About Education Waivers by Cynthia Brown and Jeremy Ayers
• No Child Left Behind Waiver Applications: Are they Ambitious and Achievable? by Jeremy Ayers

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