US says Oklahoma schools not meeting standards that warrant waiver from federal guidelines

OKLAHOMA CITY – Federal education officials say Oklahoma's public school standards aren't sufficiently preparing students for college or careers and will pull a waiver that lets the state bypass some provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act.

The U.S. Department of Education sent a letter to the state Thursday saying that while Oklahoma had benefited from the flexibility, it couldn't justify an extension.

Assistant Education Secretary Deborah Delisle said Oklahoma had promised to carry out plans to improve education for all students. This year, however, Oklahoma overturned its Common Core standards and adopted those in place in 2010. Delisle told Oklahoma offiicials they "can no longer demonstrate that the state's standards are college- and career-ready standards."

Educators in Indiana and Kansas were granted one-year waivers Thursday, allowing them to continue state-developed programs.