The National Conference of State Legislatures could give states, including Utah, some political muscle in wrestling with the unpopular No Child Left Behind law, some elected and education leaders hope.

NCSL, in Salt Lake City this week for its annual meeting and exhibition, has a task force examining the law, best known for its strict testing and school accountability, and its effect on states. Task force hearings, like the one held here Monday, are scheduled in cities including New York and Santa Fe through December. A report and possible recommendations will follow.

That could give Utah, where lawmakers have debated opting out of No Child Left Behind, help in making the law work for Utah schools, associate state superintendent Ray Timothy said.

"I hope working with NCSL . . . would apply pressure necessary to keep the dialogue on flexibility open and continue to work toward (adjusting the) legislation so we can continue to meet students' needs."

But changes might have to be in regulations, rather than the law itself.

"We certainly try to listen to states," said Doug Mesecar, U.S. Department of Education deputy chief of staff. "(But Bush administration officials) currently do not support legislation that would propose amendments to this law."

No Child Left Behind aims to have all students proficient in reading and math by 2014. States decide how to meet the goal. The feds monitor schools' progress through "adequate yearly progress reports," in which each group of students has to score well or improve on tests and post 95 percent participation rates. Low-income schools repeatedly failing to meet those standards face sanctions — from inviting parents to transfer students to another school, to a state takeover.

The law has done some good, Mesecar said. In Connecticut, 93 percent of students with limited English skills — about double that before No Child Left Behind — are participating in tests. Some Kansas schools have more than doubled the number of students passing some tests. States can shuffle federal funds around to bring about other improvements.

"Results are beginning to show," Mesecar said. "I think that is impressive given this law is only 2 years old."

But Kansas Sen. John Vratil noted his schools' success followed a $9 million private grant and acclaimed reading program, not federal support, which many say is lacking.

Lawmakers from Eastern states worried about high-performing schools having enough room for transfer students. Some feared potential lawsuits from parents whose children were turned away. Others want to use federal funds for buildings in those cases.

Utah is struggling to turn around test scores from nearly a half million children between April, when they take tests, and the time they enroll for the next school year — which, in year-round schools, starts a few weeks after the last one ends. The feds are weighing a request to release scores in October.