Teachers looking forward to education law changes



BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — School leaders and teachers who have argued that test scores alone shouldn't make or break a school are hopeful the new federal education law will offer a truer picture of success.

States still will have to test students in math and reading to judge school quality under the Every Student Succeeds Act. But the successor to No Child Left Behind also makes room for things like school climate, safety and student and teacher engagement.

The law lets states choose their own additional measures.

Educators say the next big challenge for states will be figuring out not just what factors to use but how to measure them.

The change is one part of the law President Barack Obama signed last week that shifts more decision-making powers back to states.