PORTLAND, Maine - Independent U.S. Sen. Angus King today announced his intention to introduce legislation that will provide Maine with a pathway to reduce the number of federally-mandated standardized tests students must take to be in compliance with No Child Left Behind - formally known as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
King met with teachers and education officials at Presumpscot Elementary School in Portland this afternoon. "One of the things we're trying to work on is allowing states like Maine that are really ahead of the country on performance-based education and that kind of thing, to have more running room, so Washington doesn't say 'this is the way you've got to do it.' "
The No Child Left Behind law expired in 2007 and King says it will be considered for re-authorization this spring by the Senate's Education Committee.