Flexibility from No Child Left Behind Opportunity Set with High Bar Designed to Advance Equity and Support Reform

In an effort to support local and state education reform across America, the White House recently outlined how states can get relief from provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act - No Child Left Behind (NCLB) - in exchange for serious state-led efforts to close achievement gaps, promote rigorous accountability, and ensure that all students are on track to graduate college- and career-ready.

States may request flexibility from specific NCLB mandates that are stifling reform, but only if they are transitioning students, teachers, and schools to a system aligned with college- and career-ready standards for all students, developing differentiated accountability systems, and undertaking reforms to support effective classroom instruction and school leadership.

For more information about ESEA Flexibility, please visit:

U.S. Department of Education: ESEA Flexibility