Schools Will Have To Prove Themselves Before Receiving Federal Funding

Under the bill, states must:

There will be consequences for schools that do not show progress.

Education researchers said schools that already struggle under the state's ABCs plan should not fear the change.

"In North Carolina, where we've really embraced these schools and worked on turning these schools around. We're going to see more required actions that school systems and schools are going to have to take if they continue to perform at low levels," senior education advisor J.B. Buxton said.

In exchange for more flexibility in spending federal money, states must produce an annual report card comparing scores, which is something North Carolina already does with its ABCs program.

There is also $1 billion included for President Bush's reading program, but no mandatory funding for special education students.

Congress is expected to pass the bill and the president hopes to sign it by the end of next week.