House to Debate GOP Bill to Fix No Child Left Behind

WASHINGTON (AP) — No Child Left Behind is a widely criticized law, but a GOP bill the House is considering to fix it isn't winning popularity contests among Democrats.

House Republicans say the measure, which will be debated Wednesday, would restore local control in schools and stop top-down education mandates.

House Democrats and the White House say it would lead to the federal government abandoning its responsibility to poor, minority, non-English-speaking and disabled children.

The bill maintains annual federal testing requirements. It eliminates many federal programs, creates a single local grant program and allows public money to follow low-income children to new public schools.

A vote is expected on Friday, and it's possible that members will vote strictly along party lines. That's what happened with a similar bill in 2013.

(Story by: Kimberly Hefling, Education Writer, The Associated Press)