House Panel Starts Rewrite Of No Child Left Behind

WASHINGTON (AP) — House lawmakers are beginning work on a rewrite of the No Child Left Behind education law that would give states more authority and Washington less.

Members of the House Education and the Workforce Committee on Wednesday considered a replacement to the law that expired in 2007. From the start, the Republican-led panel focused on reducing Education Secretary Arne Duncan's authority.

Duncan has given 37 states and the District of Columbia permission to ignore parts of No Child Left Behind in exchange for detailed school improvement plans. But on Tuesday, Duncan told states they could ask for permission to delay implementing parts of those plans for another year.

Education panel chairman John Kline, a Minnesota Republican, says Congress needs to rein in Duncan's power.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.