Iowa seeks freeze on No Child Left Behind targets

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa has asked the federal government for a one-year freeze on state targets under the No Child Left Behind rules.

The request follows a decision by the U.S. Department of Education last week to deny the state’s request for a waiver from key provisions of the act.

Iowa Education Director Jason Glass says Wednesday’s request is a stop-gap measure while the state continues to seek permanent relief from the “unrealistic accountability measures”

Under the federal law, all children are requested to be at grade level in math and reading by 2014. Schools that don’t accomplish that goal face stiff penalties, including mandates to replace staff.

Glass says he’s hopeful a freeze will temporarily stop the “unrealistic targets included in the blame-and-shame policies” of the regulations.