FILE PhotoNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander wants Education Secretary Arne Duncan to show restraint in granting waivers to states on the No Child Left Behind Law.
Duncan announced the waivers last month and said in order to get one, states must agree to education reforms the White House favors -- from tougher evaluation systems for teachers and principals to programs helping minority students.
Tennessee asked for a waiver in July. Alexander, a Tennessee Republican, said on the Senate floor Thursday in Washington that Duncan has the power to grant waivers, "but he should do it in a limited way and Congress should get to work fixing No Child Left Behind so there is no need for waivers."
Duncan has warned that 82 percent of U.S. schools could be labeled failures next year if the law is not changed.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
