LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — State education officials have approved a new accountability system that would see public schools get better state rankings if they improve students’ test scores.

The Nebraska State Board of Education also agreed Friday to seek a waiver from the federal No Child Left Behind education accountability law.

The state’s new system will sort schools into four performance classes: excellent, great, good and needs improvement. Schools will jump to a higher class if scores on state tests improve from the previous year or kids demonstrate sufficient academic growth.

If a school sees an increase in students scoring below proficient, it may drop to a lower class.

The state’s new system will replace the current system, which numerically ranks public schools in a host of categories.