3:30 PM Today: Education Secretary Duncan and Senior Education Department Officials Discuss Flexiblity from No Child Left Behind on National Press Call

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan will join Carmel Martin, U.S. Department of Education assistant secretary for planning, evaluation and policy development, and Michael Yudin, U.S. deputy assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education, to host a press call at 3:30 p.m. ET today to discuss the Obama administration's approval of Washington and Wisconsin for flexibility from key provisions of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) in exchange for state-developed plans to prepare all students for college and career, focus aid on the neediest students, and support effective teaching and leadership.

Today's announcement brings to 26 the number of states that have been approved for waivers from NCLB, whose rigid, top-down prescriptions for reform, while well-intentioned, have proved burdensome for many states. Eleven additional requests for flexibility are under review.

To join the call, members of the press may dial 800-857-9738 and give the passcode "flexibility."