Major Education Overhaul Planned

The Obama administration plans to make big changes to the No Child Left Behind law as part of an overhaul of national education policy. The White House revealed its plan Saturday, immediately sparking debate, in part because major changes will be made to the core policies in the 2002 law enacted under George W. Bush. The plan is “tight on goals, loose on means,” according to administration officials, with tough standards for success but relaxed punishment for lagging schools. Many teachers and critics feel that the Bush law allowed states to set very low standards to boost the appearance of progress and overemphasized test scores. The plan would ease federal control of school districts’ policies. "We don't think we should micromanage the schools from Washington," Education Secretary Arne Duncan said Friday. "We want to hold educators accountable but let them be creative."