Fayette, Glasgow and Boonville Public Schools are now all under school improvement plans as the result of recent announcements for not meeting annual yearly progress standards as defined by No Child Left Behind federal legislation.
They can take comfort in that they’re not alone.
More than 390 school districts in the state (75 percent) are in some stage of “school improvement.” New Franklin has thus far escaped the unwelcome distinction, but school board members learned at their last board meeting Wednesday that their district may be included on the list this year if drop-out rate numbers prove slightly higher than the NCLB standards allow.
All schools which are designated as “not meeting annual progress goals” must send a letter to parents informing them of the school’s status.
Such a letter will be sent to Fayette students next week. Dr. Russ Brock, superintendent of schools, explains in a letter to the editor some of what will be in the note to parents. His letter is on Page 6 of today’s Democrat-Leader.
Brock notes: “Those targets will continue to increase until the year 2014 when all students are expected to perform at the proficient or advanced levels on the MAP tests given each year.” He adds, “No country on earth has ever accomplished that, and never will as long as they test all children. That is why the law must be changed and realistic performance targets established.”
Jeanie Gordon, superintendent of New Franklin Public Schools, expressed similar sentiments. “When we’re measured by the same bar, it demeans our value as individual people with individual talents.”
Many politicians have noted their hope to repeal the No Child Left Behind legislation.
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