DENVER—Colorado Education Commissioner Robert Hammond says getting exemptions from the federal No Child Left Behind law is a way to strengthen state and local accountability, not get out from under the statute.
Hammond and Colorado Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia were among state officials who were at the White House on Friday as President Barack Obama announced states will be free to waive basic elements of the law.
Colorado has already said it wants to get waivers.
Hammond says some of the provisions of the federal law are outdated and hinder innovation. He says Colorado’s accountability system is stronger than what the federal law requires.
He cites the example a Colorado program that focuses on students’ academic growth over time. Hammond says that strengthens Colorado’s ability to measure students’ progress.
![[prison 19] Caption: This is Cellhouse 1, Pod A, from ground level inside the Sterling Correctional Facility which is located outside of Sterling, Colorado Thursday afternoon. Photographer: LEW SHERMAN Title: FREELANCE Credit: SPECIAL TO THE POST City: Sterling State: CO Country: USA Date: 19990617 ObjectName: prison 19 Keyword: PUBDATE____1999_06_22](/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/20151207__denverpostp1.jpg?w=538 "20151207__denverpost~p1.jpg")
