NEW YORK, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- Two years after President Bush signed his far-reaching education reform law, several states are reported taking steps to avoid paying for it.
At least eight states are working to make sure state funds are not used for the No Child Left Behind program, calling the law an intrusion on local control, according to USA Today.
In Utah, the Senate is considering a House-passed bill that would exempt the state from spending its own money on the law. Virginia's House of Delegates last month approved a resolution asking Congress to exempt Virginia from the law's mandates.
Maine and New Hampshire have proposed blocking state funds while Arizona, Hawaii, Minnesota and New Mexico lawmakers have proposed opt-out measures.
So far, lawmakers in 20 states have asked the federal government for changes in the law or for more money; six are studying the law's costs. Republicans appear just as likely to protest as Democrats.
