Topeka ? Federal education officials have rejected a request by the state for a waiver this year to increased student performance requirements under No Child Left Behind, officials said Friday.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Michael Yudin said that while the agency appreciated Kansas’ work in education reforms, it felt that the best way to assist states was through timely reauthorization in Congress of the federal education law.

“I certainly understand the secretary’s position, but I’m very disappointed in this decision,” said State Board of Education Chairman David Dennis. “I feel strongly that we need to be focused on a growth model for accountability purposes and I’m hopeful Congress will understand the urgency involved for our schools and heed the President’s call to reauthorize (the law) by the start of the next school year,” Dennis said.

The state education board had sought to hold performance targets in reading and math assessments to 2009-10 levels while transitioning to new math and language arts tests.

The decision by the U.S. Department of Education means that in order to meet Adequate Yearly Progress measures, Kansas schools and school districts will need to have at least 87.8 percent of students in grades K-8 reach or exceed standards on state reading assessments, and at least 86 percent of grade 9-12 students meeting or exceeding standards in reading. The math targets for proficiency are 86.7 percent in grades K-8 and 82.3 percent in grades 9-12.

While many students in the Lawrence school district met the required standard, this year, the district fell short overall because black students and students with disabilities — as groups — missed assessment targets. The group of students who qualify for free and reduced-price lunches also fell short on reading goals.