Some North Carolina lawmakers are proposing a bill that could put a black mark on teaching standards in the Tarheel State. The proposed legislation would allow teachers from other states to opt out of North Carolina's subject matter testing requirements if they have already been deemed highly qualified by their home states. This seems like a risky proposition, given the wide variety in states' responses to NCLB's Highly Qualified Teacher provisions.

North Carolina Governor Mike Easley (D) apparently agrees: his office quickly responded to the bill with a statement saying, "We are raising standards in North Carolina. We are not lowering them." Kudos to Easley for sticking to his guns. The state's main teachers' union, the North Carolina Association of Educators, is also opposed to the bill.

Supporters of the bill are citing the usual argument for exempting veteran teachers: they've already proven themselves. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent James Pughsley commented, "Give me a teacher with a master's degree and eight years experience ? I want to get them into a classroom." So do the rest of us, but not if they don't know their stuff.