GothamSchools — daily independent reporting on NYC public schools

ALBANY — New York is joining the vast majority of states seeking to escape some of the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind law.

The Obama administration announced in August that it would offer states a chance to skirt some of NCLB’s strictest provisions, including the one that requires all students to score proficient on state tests by 2014. Last month, federal officials fleshed out the requirements and states lined up to apply — 39 so far, plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. New York seemed to be a strong contender but officials here had not said until now whether the state would seek a waiver.

Today, state education officials announced that they plan to file a waiver application by the federal government’s second deadline, in mid-February.

Between now and then, a “think tank” of representatives from nearly two dozen education organizations will advise the State Education Department on its application, officials said today during a meeting of the Board of Regents. The think tank — whose members come from teachers unions, advocacy groups, reform organizations, and rural and urban school districts — have met twice already to plan and will discuss substantive issues for the first time when it convenes on Wednesday.

Ira Schwartz, the assistant commissioner in NYSED’s accountability office, will oversee the application process. (more…)