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The Department of Education's plans to announce today that it has granted waivers releasing Washington and Wisconsin from some of the most onerous conditions of the No Child Left Behind education law brings the total number of states freed from the Bush-era law to 26, according to news reports.

That so many states have received waivers raises the question of whether the decades-old federal program has been essentially nullified. (The New York Times)

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, who dreamed-up the waiver plan, sent out a fist-bumping press release to celebrate, according to Education Week.

Conservative columnist George Will says Chicago teachers have a reason to be annoyed by the state of schools—and other conditions—in the city. (The Washington Post)

Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, says George Will is wrong for taking Mayor Rahm Emanuel's assertion at face value, that more charter schools will improve the quality of education. (Business Insider)

Because of the heat, CPS Chief Executive Officer Jean-Claude Brizard canceled classes for students and teachers on Friday, but said school leaders and engineers are expected to report to work, according to a CPS statement.

Carole Nolan, a former teacher who founded WBEZ by buying the station from the Board of Education for $1 million, has died.

IN THE STATE
By 2015, all 4,000 students who attend school in Carol Stream Elementary District 93 could have their own computer to use in the classroom. The district is rolling out its so-called “1:1 learning initiative” that will put new iPads and MacBook Airs in the hands of students and teachers to use as learning and teaching tools. (Daily Herald)

IN THE NATION
Nearly nine out of 10 public school teachers are now aware of the Common Core State Standards, and most of them have a "very" or "somewhat" favorable impression, according to new polling data. Meanwhile, the general public is still mostly out of the loop about the new standards. (Education Week)

ACT, Inc., the nonprofit leader in college and career readiness assessment, today announced its plan to launch a "next generation" assessment system spanning early elementary grades through high school. The new system will advance ACT's mission of helping people achieve education and workplace success by providing students, parents and educators with the information they need to know whether students are on track for success in college and 21st century careers. (Press release)

International publishing giant Pearson announced a new program Monday that will channel millions of dollars into education systems in countries in Africa and Asia. (Education Week)

About 87 schools in New York City are caught in a squeeze where more than half of their students — but fewer than 60 percent — are considered poor, putting them just shy of qualification for federal Title 1 money. (The New York Times)

The New York Times offers a video roundup of commencement speeches given around the country this year. Speakers range from Geoffrey Canada, founder of Harlem Children's Zone, to Wendy Kopp, founder of Teach for America.