LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy is working hard to secure federal approval for a waiver from some of the key provisions of No Child Left Behind, taking a whirlwind trip to Washington, DC to meet with Education Secretary Arne Duncan earlier this week. Among other things, a waiver for LAUSD would free up an estimated $80...

California appears to be the only state in the nation that has applied for — but not yet received — a so-called “waiver” from NCLB but doesn’t already have a one-year freeze on NCLB’s ever-escalating proficiency requirements in its back pocket.  That means California schools will be among the only ones in the nation operating under...