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State Still Waiting On No Child Left Behind Waiver Request

Matt B.
/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/netmonkey/1205848727

Even as five more states were granted waivers Thursday from certain parts of the federal No Child Left Behind Act, Indiana looks for the time being like it’s been…left behind.

Federal education officials had promised an answer on Indiana’s waiver request by the end of July, but a press release from the U.S. Department of Education yesterday confirmed a decision has not been made on Indiana’s claim.

"Despite media reports to the contrary, no decision has been made by the federal government regarding Indiana’s waiver," the press release says.

According to the release, Indiana is one of nearly 20 states that currently have waiver requests pending.

In May, the federal government chastised Indiana for its poor efforts to bolster failing schools.

State Superintendent Glenda Ritz‘s office filed a response, but that response was criticized by Claire Fiddian-Green, Governor Pence‘s Special Assistant for Education Innovation. Fiddian-Green also is co-leader of the Center For Education and Career Innovation, which Pence created to work with all of the state‘s education agencies. It’s the same group Democrats have charged is trying to take power from Ritz, the only Democrat currently holding statewide office.

Several members of the State Board of Education, all of whom were appointed either by Pence or his predecessor, Mitch Daniels, also criticized Ritz for not sharing information about problems with the waiver with the board.

The U.S. DOE says there is no timetable for a decision on Indiana‘s fate.

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