Seven advocacy and civil rights organizations, led past Washington-based The Didactics Trust, have chosen on Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to deny nine California districts a waiver from the No Child Left Behind police, saying any deviation from a statewide waiver "would be the incorrect path forward."

"Instead, we urge California's district and state leaders to work together on a strong statewide application. And nosotros urge the U.S. Section of Education to stand up firm, both in its delivery to equity and its commitment to statewide accountability systems," the organizations state in a letter of the alphabet sent to Duncan on Monday.

California and other states in white haven't submitted a waiver application responding to federal requirements. The 34 states in blue have waivers; the states in green have applications under review.

California and other states in white haven't submitted a waiver awarding responding to federal requirements. The 34 states in blue have waivers; the states in greenish have applications under review. Source: U.South. Department of Pedagogy.

The 9 districts, which accept formed the California Office to Reform Education, or CORE, last month submitted a unique district application for a waiver that would requite them more flexibility to enforce key provisions of NCLB while freeing them from some of its penalties. They would commit to improve the lowest performing schools, integrate exam scores and other data into teacher evaluations and develop college and career standards. The districts are in the procedure of responding to a critique of their application by reviewers for the Department of Education and hope to have the waiver approved soon to take effect this fall.

Duncan already has granted 34 land waivers, with nine more than under review. Last year, Duncan rejected California's statewide waiver application, and the state has no application pending. Country Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson told EdSource Today recently that discussions are continuing with Duncan's staff.

The civil rights groups argue there is no replacement for a statewide accountability organization that can "serve as a backstop to forces pressuring districts to sweep depression performance under the carpeting … and declare that local schools are doing but fine." Moreover, they write, "Moving abroad from a system of statewide accountability and state-led commitment to improving student outcomes will result in different expectations for students from i commune to the next."

Responding past electronic mail, Core Executive Director Rick Miller noted that the CORE districts would open up the waiver process to all California districts that agreed to attach to the federal requirements. And he argued that Cadre's waiver application would commit to "robust accountability" for minority students, English learners and students with disabilities.

"Nosotros believe our application provides necessary innovation and is ultimately based on what'southward best for students, non the protection of systems," he wrote.

The seven groups signing the letter are Easter Seals, the National Center for Learning Disabilities, the National Indian Education Association, the National Women'due south Police Center, the League of United Latin American Citizens, Democrats for Education Reform and The Education Trust, which is the parent grouping of Oakland-based Teaching Trust-West. (Update: Equally readers will notation in a annotate today elsewhere on this site, Gloria Romero, head of the California part of Democrats for Education Reform, said that the land group continues to support the Cadre waiver awarding and that the Washington office of DFER did non consult with her before coming upwards with its position.)

To get more reports like this one, click hither to sign up for EdSource'south no-cost daily email on latest developments in education.