Topeka ? A request from the Kansas Department of Education seeking a waiver from the provisions of the federal No Child Left Behind law has been formally received in Washington.

The White House says Wednesday that Kansas was among 27 waiver applications received for the latest request period. President Barack Obama invited states to apply for greater flexibility under the law to reach goals for student achievement.

Among the strategies will be using other indicators besides test scores to measure student growth and academic progress. It also would give local officials more say to develop programs to help struggling students.

Eleven states, including Colorado and Oklahoma, have already received federal waivers.

Applications will be reviewed in the coming weeks and a decision will be announced later this spring.