President Barack Obama announced Thursday that Florida schools don't have to follow federal regulations of the No Child Left Behind Act. Some Alachua County educators said the measure will allow schools to focus on evaluation methods other than the FCAT when determining whether a school is successful.
The president approved a petition that allowed 10 states, including Florida, to form their own education plans free from the No Child Left Behind Act, provided the states create an educational plan to help students prepare for college and careers.
States that are exempt from the act don't have to get all of their students on grade level for reading and math on the FCAT by 2014, which was part of the act's requirements.
"I am glad to see they are going to let Florida operate under Florida rules," said Dan Boyd Jr., superintendent of schools for Alachua County.
Boyd said the government had set unreasonable expectations for students. Previously students had to earn a 300 on the 10th-grade FCAT to graduate high school.
Every state exempt from the act will have its own regulations to determine its success, he said.
"Florida has really worked hard to set reasonable standards and assessments for students," Boyd said. "I don't think we need federal government involved. It isn't their job."
John Russell, Teach For America member at Robert E. Lee High School in Jacksonville, said with the FCAT approaching, the focus is more on helping students pass the test than on the waiver being granted.
"I don't think a lot of people are talking about it yet," he said. "Because most of the changes will affect next school year."
