Obama: Education reform aimed at raising standards

Fri Sep 23rd 2011

President Barack Obama says Congress isn't acting quickly enough to fix problems with the No Child Left Behind law, so he's stepping in.

He's offering states a chance to scrap the requirement that all children must show they are proficient in reading and math by 2014, as long as the states meet certain conditions.

Obama says the changes are aimed at improving standards for students, not doing away with standards. He says the goals of No Child Left Behind - including higher standards and accountability - are admirable. But he says the implementation of the bill has been flawed.

Republicans are questioning whether the Obama administration has the authority to grant exceptions.