The bill underscores Dayton's view of NCLB as an intrusion on state and local school districts' rights to oversee public education. It is backed by state education officials and groups as diverse as the Utah Education Association and the conservative Eagle Forum.

HJR3 would have Utah use U-PASS, which fulfills the spirit of NCLB, until the federal law is amended and adequately funded.

"Obviously, (the federal government is) interested in what we're doing . . . we're making the noise, we're the squeaky wheel," Holdaway said. "We've been on the forefront of this whole states' rights battle. We feel this is an issue of federalism in its purest form."

Dayton has placed daily fliers on lawmakers' desks titled "Another Concern with No Child Left Behind," with passages submitted by Utah GOP Congressman Rob Bishop, R-Utah. Future installments are planned, from State Superintendent of Public Instruction Patti Harrington, State Board of Education chairman Kim Burningham, a Jordan District teacher and other officials.

The idea is to better inform colleagues about NCLB's intricacies, Dayton said.

NCLB aims to have all children read and do math on grade level by 2014. People praise the noble goal, but don't like the one-size-fits-all approach for special education students, or the way the law labels schools.

They prefer U-PASS, which they say focuses on individual student growth and state education goals. The state has asked that U-PASS be used to meet NCLB requirements, but Harrington has said federal approval could be a "long shot."

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