State Education Commissioner Susan Gendron has written the U.S. Department of Education requesting it reconsider its rejection of parts of Maine’s assessment system under No Child Left Behind and change the state’s unflattering status as a “non approved” system under the federal law.

Gendron met a Monday deadline to make her appeal. She asked the federal government to give the state’s updated proposal a full review and change the state’s status to “approval pending.”

Of particular concern was the federal department’s criticism of the use of the SAT to measure progress at the high school level – a test that Gendron called an “integral part” in making sure more Maine students are ready for college.

“Maine has taken a bold and highly visible step to move Maine in line with the vision of preparing all students to be extremely well ready for college, work and citizenship in the 21st century,” said Gendron.

“The designation of non-approval sends a message that undermines Maine’s particular efforts to achieve significant and meaningful reform…and signals that a state that honestly strives for that goal will be challenged in its efforts to do so,” the commissioner said in a prepared statement.

Gendron also made her case that the federal government’s threat to pull nearly $114,000 from the state Department of Education to help administer the No Child Left Behind Act would be harmful.

If the federal department rejects Gendron’s request to change the state’s non-approved status, that money would be sent directly to school districts. No date has been given as to when the federal government will make up its mind, she said.

Gendron said her response “takes all but one issue off the table, and we provided a plan to address that issue.” That issue is the most contentious and involves the adequacy of using the SAT in the 11th grade to measure student progress. Gendron switched to the standardized, college preparatory test this past school year despite opposition.

Her proposal to the federal department is that a supplemental test asking questions in science and math be given in addition to the SAT.

Maine was warned of its non-approved status at the end of June and was given until Monday to respond.