NASHUA, N.H. (AP) -- New Hampshire education officials plan to apply for a waiver from the federal No Child Left Behind education law.

The deadline for the third round of waivers is Sept. 6, but the Nashua Telegraph said the waiver application could be submitted as early as this month.

State Deputy Commissioner of Education Paul Leather said the state's already submitted a concept paper to the federal government and received encouragement to move forward with the waiver.

New Hampshire education officials in February said they wouldn't seek a waiver from the proficiency requirements that come with the program, choosing instead to develop and implement their own accountability system to improve student performance and teacher effectiveness.

Waivers would allow states to craft their own approaches to meeting goals, with certain conditions.