The State's move to opt out of provisions of No Child Left Behind get the endorsement of the law's author.

Margaret Spellings was the Education Secretary when No Child Left Behind was signed into law, "I support Commissioner Williams in his request for a waiver for 'No Child Left Behind.  It's far overdue."  It's been three months since Education Commissioner Michael Williams emailed an informal Notice Of Waiver Request.  Since then he has spoken with Obama's Education Secretary Arne Duncan, "The Secretary and I have had a conversation on Tuesday.  He asked 'what could I do' and I said two different times, approve my wiaver request.  We're going to continue to have that conversaton."  Williams expects the State's formal waiver request finalized before Christmas.