Most WA state public schools will show as failing. They did not do as Arne Duncan dictated.

[madfloridian]

1. ABC says it well. WA "losing independence" to make decisions how to spend 40 million.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/washington-loses-waiver-child-left-23458892

It's Arne's way or the highway. State will probably have to lay off teachers and cut programs because they did not want to use high stake tests to grade teachers.

Washington state is losing its independence to decide the best way to spend about $40 million in federal dollars to improve how students perform in its public schools, education officials said Thursday.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan told state officials he was taking away a waiver that allowed the state to ignore some requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind law because Washington did not meet federal demands to include student performance on statewide standardized tests in teacher evaluations.

Gov. Jay Inslee said he expects the federal decision may lead to teacher layoffs and cuts in programs that support struggling students.

Washington state is the first to lose one of the waivers granted to 42 other states and the District of Columbia. The waivers are a stopgap until Congress acts to reauthorize the federal framework for the nation's schools.

The direction of education is important. But I know a losing cause when I see it. From the moment Obama took a stand with the "reformers" and chose Arne Duncan....the "stars were aligned" as Eli Broad, billionaire, loves to say.

And from the moment the president took up the cause of the Bush agenda for education, it has been considered irreverent to speak against it.