No Child Left Behind enforcement changes expected to be announced today will be good news, area superintendents said, but measuring the effect in local districts is yet to be seen.

Bush administration sources said earlier in the week that Education Secretary Margaret Spellings plans to change the 2001 act to give preferential treatment to states that prove they’re serious about raising achievement.

Though the changes have not been formally released yet, one example is allowing more freedom in testing children with milder disabilities.

States that prove they are making progress and have a strong commitment to these students will be able to give alternate tests to an additional 2 percent of students.

Currently only 1 percent of the special education population can be tested at their instructional level instead of their grade level. The changes will allow 3 percent to test at their instructional level, widening the group to include mild and moderately disabled students.

&uot;That’s always been an issue,&uot; Natchez-Adams Superintendent Anthony Morris said. &uot;If they could do stuff on grade level they wouldn’t be in special ed.&uot;

Morris and Concordia Parish Superintendent Kerry Laster said they had heard little of the changes and would anticipate the formal announcement today.

&uot;I knew there had been some rumblings about some things that might give us some relief with special education,&uot; Laster said.

The scores of special education students on standardized tests factor into overall school and district accountability ratings.

Morris and Laster said their states and districts were working hard to improve instruction for students with disabilities, and thought their states would qualify for the flexibility.

&uot;Louisiana is making a tremendous effort,&uot; Laster said. &uot;I feel like we’ll be in good shape.&uot;

Test scores are a requirement to participate in graduation ceremonies in Louisiana, and Laster said she’s seen special education students miss the ceremonies.

&uot;There are kids in there that I think we penalize,&uot; she said. &uot;They’ve taken the test and they’ve taken the test, but they still are not able to pass it. Maybe a different format would give them an opportunity to do so. They just don’t do well on a pencil and paper test.&uot;

Spellings has invited administrators to Mount Vernon, Va., for today’s announcement.

The Bush administration has been criticized over the NCLB law, including charges from a bipartisan conference of state lawmakers that say it sets unrealistic goals for hard-to-reach students.

Morris said Wednesday that on first glance the changes do appear to be somewhat political. Laster questioned when the changes would trickle down to the state level.