Chicago ? In what could lead to broad changes in the Bush administration’s education reforms, federal officials said Thursday they were open to relaxing requirements for states that show a commitment to improve.

The plan, outlined Thursday during a meeting between Education Secretary Margaret Spellings and state school chiefs, may help defuse a growing rebellion against No Child Left Behind, a law criticized as unfunded and an intrusion into state control.

Education officials are adamant that the cornerstone of the law — having all students reading and doing math at grade level by 2013-2014 — will not change.

But, among other things, Spellings’ policy shift could make it easier for school districts to pass state tests under the 2002 law by increasing the number of students who can take a modified test because of disabilities.

Some sanctions for failing to meet state standards, including a provision that children in failing schools be given the opportunity to transfer to better ones, also could be relaxed.

“Many of you may have your own issues,” Spellings told state officials. “We are willing to consider requests, as long as the results for students are there and the principles of the law are followed.”

Spelling’s announcement opens the door for states to ask for greater flexibility in everything from how they measure student progress to when they must offer student transfers.

She hinted she would be open to measuring academic achievement by tracking individual students, instead of by comparing grade levels from one year to the next. Educators say the current approach fails to measure student progress.javascript:body_guess_subhead()

For federal officials to consider changes, states will have to show they are following the rules of No Child Left Behind.