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State education leaders expect to apply Monday for a waiver from some of the most rigid requirements of a federal law widely viewed as flawed because it has labeled so many schools as failing. If theU.S. Department of Educationgrants Maryland an exemption from the No Child Left Behind law, schools and teachers would have more reasonable goals for what their students are expected to achieve. Currently the law says that every student in the country should be proficient in reading and math by 2014.

In a sign the House may be moving closer to the Senate position on shifting part of the state's teacher pension costs to the counties, the delegate who chairs the House Appropriations Committee said Wednesday that the lower chamber is considering such a move. Del. Norman Conway, a Wicomicom County Democrat, said Gov.Martin O'Malley's proposed pension shift is "still in play" despite vocal opposition from many county leaders. "We've recognized that at some point we're going to have to Become partners with the counties on retirement issues," the chairman said.

Imagine a report that reached the following three conclusions: In Maryland, 35 percent of males passed Advanced Placement exams, but only 8 percent of females passed them; 70 percent of males who took the AP exams could pass them, but only 28 percent of females could; and nationally, an estimated 79 percent of females who could succeed in AP courses were not even being offered them. The outcry over such differences by gender in achievement and access to AP tests would result in a massive public outcry over obvious systemic failures to educate males and females equally.

Thank you Marta Mossburg for having the courage to state the obvious ("A failure of values, not economics," Feb. 15). The idea that values are a significant factor in personal achievement has been sneered at by the left for over 30 years. As Ms. Mossburg points out, the facts clearly show otherwise. Unfortunately, I don't believe the current administration in Annapolis is capable of addressing the real problems in the achievement gap. That would be too difficult. It's so much easier to throw money at the problem (other people's money, I might add)

For the fourth year in a row, Maryland students have topped the nation in the proportion of high school graduates who successfully passed the rigorous Advanced Placement exams, leaping even further ahead of other top states. Twenty-nine percent of last year's class passed at least one AP test, compared to the national average of 18 percent. Maryland's pass rate is double what it was a decade ago. The results suggest that the state's commitment to investing in education over recent years is paying off in bumper crops of students with the kind of advanced, high-level academic skills the state will need to compete successfully in a 21 s t -century knowledge-based global economy, and that's all to the good.

Maryland's slots commission threw out a bid Friday by former state Democratic Party Chairman Nathan Landow to build a casino at Rocky Gap, leaving a single offer in play for the Western Maryland resort. The decision concerning one of Maryland's five casino sites came as lawmakers sparred over the idea of expanding gambling to a sixth location and allowing table games as well as the current slot machines. Donald Fry, the state slots commission chairman, said Landow's group failed to provide necessary financial and business data to support its bid. "We were never provided the full, detailed plan," Fry said after the commission voted 6-0 at a meeting in Annapolis to reject the bid. "Landow Partners is rejected for having deficiencies" in its proposal.

The General Assembly's Joint Committee on Spending Affordability is expected to set a goal Thursday night of trimming the state's long-term budget shortfall -- known in as the structural deficit -- in half during the legislative session that begins in January. If the lawmakers were to keep to their previous plans, the cut would amount to roughly a $500 million reduction in projected spending. The legislature set out to erase the structural deficit in three annual stages last year, starting with what was then a one-third cut. To stay on that course it would have to cut the remaining gap by half this year and eliminate the remainder next year.

The General Assembly's Joint Committee on Spending Affordability set a goal Thursday night of trimming Maryland's long-term budget shortfall — known as the structural deficit — in half during the legislative session that begins in January. According to the Department of Legislative Services, meeting that goal would require about $550 million in cuts in projected spending unless revenues are increased. Meanwhile, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller told reporters that he supports a smaller increase in transportation revenues than has been recommended by a blue-ribbon commission on transportation funding.

Ravens inside linebacker Ray Lewis , who suffered a toe injury on his right foot in Week 10, was inactive Sunday. But his absence was mitigated by the play of Dannell Ellerbe , who made seven tackles in his return to the field after missing the Thanksgiving win over the San Francisco 49ers. Ellerbe practiced all week despite a groin injury that had sidelined him for one game. He started for Lewis alongside Jameel McClain in the Ravens' 24-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns.

— One group that wants to open a casino at the Rocky Gap Lodge and Resort envisions amenities including five restaurants, a spa, a golf and tennis academy and an automobile museum. The other promises to invest $62 million to build a 50,000-square-foot gambling palace and stresses that its team has the experience to get the job done. Representatives of the two competing bidders descended on the long-struggling Western Maryland resort Tuesday afternoon and presented plans to transform a state-backed development failure into a revenue-generating casino.