Senate committee votes to update education law
By KIMBERLY HEFLING
AP Education Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - A committee has forwarded to the Senate a bill that rewrites the education law No Child Left Behind. The bill would give states more control over accountability in schools and alter some of the law's unpopular proficiency requirements.
The 15-7 vote Thursday evening in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee comes a month after President Barack Obama expressed frustration with Congress' inability to fix the law despite widespread agreement that it's flawed. He said states could seek waivers around some of its requirements if they meet certain requirements.
The committee vote is one of the most significant efforts to update the law since it was passed in 2002.
Committee Chairman Tom Harkin of Iowa says the Senate is expected to take up the measure later this year.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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