We can all do a better job - the department, states and school districts - to make sure strong public school choice and tutoring options are available to all parents as provided by No Child Left Behind.

Everything we've done has been to defer to the states and monitor them, like we do for Title I compliance. The state has a huge responsibility in all aspects of NCLB, and this is one of them. But we're partners with them in that we expect them to do the right things for their students.

This is just one piece of data we look at. This isn't a trend indicator in proficiency.

The caveat to that is if the secretary doesn't have enough to make the payments, the secretary will proportionally reduce the payments. That hasn't been decided yet. We're waiting to see the students that we get.

The reason the department refused to grant the few waiver is because this organization failed to demonstrate that its request was in the public interest in that it was not likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations or activities of the government.

There will actually be more money for student loans than ever before. Access to grants is increasing.

If the least drastic option works, then we're satisfied. When it doesn't work, then they need some more drastic changes.