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Florida board considers No Child Left Behind changes

By The Associated Press

Story Created: Aug 19, 2008 at 2:12 PM EST

Story Updated: Aug 19, 2008 at 2:12 PM EST

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Florida's education board approved a federal pilot program on Tuesday to give the state more flexibility dealing with troubled schools.

Board members met briefly via conference call after canceling a regularly scheduled meeting in Tallahassee because of Tropical Storm Fay.

Under the federal Differential Accountability Program, schools that fail to meet standards under the federal No Child Left Behind program will receive targeted help from education experts. The new program is a softening of the current program.

In the past, schools were required to take specific, federally mandated steps at specific times if they failed to make adequate yearly progress under the law.

Now, state education leaders can assess each failing school and design programs that best fit the school.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)