The State of South Dakota will be allowed to remove itself from most of the more stringent requirements of the “No Child Left Behind” law.  That federal law set rising performance standards for students and schools. The states application for a waiver was approved by the US Department of Education last week.

South Dakota Education Department Secretary Doctor Melody Schopp says applying for the waiver was pretty intense.



Schopp says they have the legislative authority in hand to begin the process of setting new accountability rules.



Schopp says despite moving away from the N-C-L-B requirements and reports, she expects the new accountability system to give parents a better picture of how schools are performing.



Schopp expects the new rules to be in place by next spring.