The U.S. Education Department has given Arizona a waiver from some provisions of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
The feds approved Arizona’s initial waiver in 2012. The current one extends through the 2014-15 school year.
The dispute has been over two provisions of the federal law: the weight Arizona gives high school graduation rates in its high-school rating system and how it uses the AIMS test to evaluate teachers.
Under the waiver, schools in the state will make changes designed to hold schools accountable for growth in student achievement, improve and maintain teacher quality and close achievement gaps.
In a letter to state schools chief John Huppenthal, federal officials said the decision to extend the waiver is based on “flexibility has been effective in enabling Arizona to carry out important reforms to improve student achievement,” and that the extension is in the public interest.