Indiana is one of the other states picked for this. From the Dispatch’s story, note especially the last quote here because I’ve heard that from so many people:
Although it’s unclear how the change will affect districts — new test scores and yearly growth data will be released this summer — it’s clearer why the changes were made. Some suburban school districts felt their good standing was being tarnished by a few students and wanted more flexibility in how to fix problems.The federal No Child Left Behind law dictates how schools must be punished when not all students in a school are making progress. Ohio was one of six states offered the chance to veer from the law and try a different set of sanctions. The state legislature still must approve the new plan.
“Quite frankly, I think it’s one of those things where suburban superintendents and suburban lawmakers have thrown their hands up and said, ‘This is stupid. We’re being punished by what happens to 11 kids in a high school of 1,000?’ and that resonates with lawmakers,” said Terry Ryan, vice president for Ohio programs and policy at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute.