Georgia is one of 11 states first in line to ask the federal Department of Education for relief from the No Child Left Behind law’s requirements.

State officials want to use a five-star rating system for schools instead of labeling them as simply passing or failing and include more measures for judging progress. The state will also set new performance goals for schools.

Former U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings, who helped implement the original law, says she supports flexibility. But she warned against complicating the public rating system.

"That sounds good, makes a lot of sense, but I think it can confuse parents," Spellings says. "How much is each measure weighted? How do they decipher what’s important to them. It ends up being more opaque, more complicated, and more confusing to parents and those are the people we’re trying to empower with more information about their kids."

Georgia will learn early next year whether it will get the waiver.