State targets for the No Child Left Behind law are frozen - KWWL.com

The U.S. Department of Education has approved Iowa's request for a one-year freeze on state targets under the No Child Left Behind act.

Iowa Education Director says this will give the state more time to seek permanent relief from the law.

Under the law, all children are required to be at grade level in math and reading by 2014.

Schools that don't accomplish that goal face stiff penalties, including mandates to replace staff.

Iowa's request to opt out of the law was denied last week.

The Iowa Education Director says the number of schools affected by the freeze isn't known because the department is in the midst of a progress report based on tests during the last school year.