CONCORD – Gov. John Lynch issued a press release today saying that the state has applied for a federal waiver to free the state from some provisions of the No Child Left Behind act.

The release indicated that proficiency requirements under No Child Left Behind have led to virtually every school district in the state being labeled as failing, hindering efforts to support schools, especially those with the greatest needs.

If the waiver is granted, the state would have the flexibility to implement its own accountability system.

“We know we have excellent schools in New Hampshire, but under the restrictive provisions of No Child Left Behind, most of our school districts are labeled as ‘failing.’ Not only is this not accurate, this outdated accountability model is hurting our ability to support schools, especially those with the greatest needs,” Lynch said.

Lynch sent a letter in support of the waiver to U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. The N.H. School Administrators Association, N.H. Association of School Principals, State Board of Education, Manchester School District, N.H. Special Education Administrators, NEA-NH, University System of New Hampshire, and Community College System of New Hampshire also issued letters in support of the waiver.