But Ms. Spellings said she would not be a pushover.

Ms. Spellings said the administration would release those details in its 2007 budget next week.

"We all have to answer the question what are we going to do about that," Ms. Spellings said in a telephone news conference.

"We're not going to sit up in Washington and look at all those moving parts," Ms. Spellings said.

"We still have the finest system of higher education in the world," Ms. Spellings said.

Ms. Spellings said the results showed the law has "struck a chord of success."

Earlier this month, Ms. Spellings said she would consider allowing alternate tests for more special education students.

Ms. Spellings said early returns prove the education law is working.

Ms. Spellings said she favors using testing for additional subjects, like science, to assess progress.