Earlier this month I noted that the Utah state legislature was considering a major challenge to No Child Left Behind, one which had united groups on both the left and right of the political spectrum. Yesterday the Utah House unanimously approved two bills which are in direct opposition to federal regulations. One "gives priority to state goals, particularly in terms of spending state dollars and deciding what’s best for kids" while the other requires Utah schools to use a performance assessment program which has not yet been blessed by the federal Department of Education.

If this kind of challenge can occur in one of the reddest of the red states, you have to wonder what might pop up in some other states. I know the Virginia legislature (the one we have to suffer with) is considering it’s own challenge to NCLB and federal regulations. It would be nice if revolts by some states would force a reconsideration of the whole program but I don’t hold out much hope. This administration is always right (just ask them!) and only compromises when it comes to negotiations with Halliburton.