Today, the Department of Education outlined a plan to provide flexibility to all states and districts from the requirements of provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act – or No Child Left Behind (NCLB). Under the plan, States that adopt reforms targeted at the following issues will receive flexibility from NCLB:

• Transitioning to College-and Career-Ready Standards and Assessment: States must have adopted college and career-ready standards in reading/language arts and mathematics designed to raise the achievement of all students, including English learners and students with disabilities.

• Developing Systems of Differentiated Recognition, Accountability, and Support: States must develop systems that give credit for progress towards college- and career-readiness.

• Evaluating and Supporting Teacher and Principal Effectiveness: States must set basic guidelines for teacher and principal evaluation and support systems.