Something of a tempest in a teapot is brewing inside the Beltway over parts of the Bush administration’s centerpiece education initiative known as “No Child Left Behind.”

No longer the law of the land, the initiative remains on the federal books in a technical sense, although most states no longer adhere to its requirements. Easily and routinely-obtained waivers helped accomplish that.

So here’s the issue. Some proponents of the law claim states that have been granted waivers are now rolling back programs meant to support at-risk students.

Many fewer students are being identified as needing significant improvement, they say.

If that were true we’d support federal intervention. But just the opposite appears true, Indeed, some states have launched new evaluation methods that are identifying kids that need additional help.

Washington should mind its own business on this one.