Obama: Education Reform Aimed at Raising Standards

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says his new reforms to the No Child Left Behind education law are aimed at improving standards for students, not doing away with standards.

Obama is giving states the flexibility to opt out of central provisions of the federal law. States that qualify for a waiver will have to show they have a plan to help low-performing schools.

The law is a signature initiative of George W. Bush's presidency, but has become increasingly unpopular.

Obama says the goals of No Child Left Behind — including higher standards and accountability — are admirable. But he says the implementation of the bill has been flawed.