Schools Bill to Give States More Control

Senators on the education committee have sent their colleagues a sweeping rewrite of No Child Left Behind that eases coast-to-coast requirements for schools and gives states greater independence to set their own goals.

The Democratic-led Senate education panel on Wednesday finished their revisions to the 2001 education law that gives states flexibility to implement reform as long as Education Secretary Arne Duncan approves their plans. Republicans opposed the changes, saying they give too much power to Duncan and Washington.

Duncan already has given 37 states and the District of Columbia permission to ignore parts of No Child Left Behind. If the Senate version of the rewrite becomes law, the other states would have to write plans.

A vote in the full Senate has not been scheduled.

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