A report on the annual yearly progress of Maine schools under the federal No Child Left Behind Act was made public today, and, as expected, most of the state's schools failed to meet targets. State officials say that's because the federal target - which calls for all students to be proficient at reading and math by 2014 - is unattainable. Maine Things Considered host Tom Porter spoke with David Connerty-Marin about the report.

David Connerty-Marin, spokesman for the Maine Department of Education, says the annual yearly progress - or AYP - targets get higher every year. This year for example, middle schools will have to meet a target of 75 percent proficiency in reading and 70 percent in math, while at the high school level, the numbers are 78 percent and 66 percent.

Maine is one of several states seeking NCLB waivers, and Connerty-Marin says he hopes Maine's request for a waiver will be approved within the next month.