Most teachers will tell you…they’ve put in a lot of long hours…since the start of this school year.

“It’s a 24/7 job,” said Joel Maude, a primary teacher in Anderson County.

New core content rules means primary teachers like Maude are using new academic standards.

“Our students are always on our minds…we are constantly thinking what we can do to make their learning better,” he said Thursday.

But Senate Bill One is one reason Kentucky is getting a pass on implementing some of the No Child Left Behind measures.

“What people are seeing now in the classroom this year..is tied to this flexibility request,” said Ky Dept. of Education spokesperson Lisa Gross.

The President’s flexibility waiver means instead of a state standard and a federal standard to meet..there’s just one threshold to target.

“People will now be able to look at one number to determine whether a school is where it should be,” Gross said.

A big component on the waiver is based on what schools are already doing, such as college and career readiness.

And that means the coursework hasn’t been easy for the kids, either.
“The work itself is becoming difficult for students..but that’s good. We are raising the bar,” said Maude.

And the waiver doesn’t mean teachers’ jobs will be easier.

“I think it will give them more information so that they can help their students,” said Gross.

Students will be tested on new standards this spring…with the results making up the new accountability model.