Seeing improvement
Fewer schools cited for doing poorly
THE number of Oklahoma schools landing on the state’s list of poor-performing schools is on the decline, and that’s good news for our state’s students.
Based on last year’s test scores, 42 schools were named to the “needs improvement” list created under the No Child Left Behind (NLCB) law. A year ago, 122 schools were put on the list for failing to meet academic goals, based mostly on test scores.
Clearly, 42 schools is still too many. Schools have the opportunity to appeal the needs improvement designation and no doubt some will. Schools must post poor scores for two years to make the list and must show improvement for two years to get off. That’s a tall order.
Federal law requires students in all subgroups — broken down by race, special education, English language learners, etc. — to improve. Poor scores in just one subgroup can put schools on the list, forcing schools to offer transfers, tutors and levying more severe consequences for schools that repeatedly appear on the list.
As we’ve noted before, NCLB has schools focused on data in ways they never have before. The law isn’t perfect. Loopholes have allowed some schools to avoid accountability for some students. But overall, schools are being forced to pay attention to test scores, graduation rates and other data and improve instruction accordingly.
Gov. Brad Henry’s Achieving Classroom Excellence legislation is helping schools that posted particularly poor scores on the eighth-grade math test. Ten elementary and middle schools will share in $2 million to help buy math computer labs after more than half of each school’s eighth graders failed to score at least satisfactory on the test.
We hope that program and other state-funded assistance efforts will help schools improve student achievement and get off the list. Parents should get involved, too, learning what areas students are struggling in and finding ways to help.
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This was an editorial Tuesday, I liked it so I posted it.
Fewer schools cited for doing poorly
THE number of Oklahoma schools landing on the state’s list of poor-performing schools is on the decline, and that’s good news for our state’s students.
Based on last year’s test scores, 42 schools were named to the “needs improvement” list created under the No Child Left Behind (NLCB) law. A year ago, 122 schools were put on the list for failing to meet academic goals, based mostly on test scores.
Clearly, 42 schools is still too many. Schools have the opportunity to appeal the needs improvement designation and no doubt some will. Schools must post poor scores for two years to make the list and must show improvement for two years to get off. That’s a tall order.
Federal law requires students in all subgroups — broken down by race, special education, English language learners, etc. — to improve. Poor scores in just one subgroup can put schools on the list, forcing schools to offer transfers, tutors and levying more severe consequences for schools that repeatedly appear on the list.
As we’ve noted before, NCLB has schools focused on data in ways they never have before. The law isn’t perfect. Loopholes have allowed some schools to avoid accountability for some students. But overall, schools are being forced to pay attention to test scores, graduation rates and other data and improve instruction accordingly.
Gov. Brad Henry’s Achieving Classroom Excellence legislation is helping schools that posted particularly poor scores on the eighth-grade math test. Ten elementary and middle schools will share in $2 million to help buy math computer labs after more than half of each school’s eighth graders failed to score at least satisfactory on the test.
We hope that program and other state-funded assistance efforts will help schools improve student achievement and get off the list. Parents should get involved, too, learning what areas students are struggling in and finding ways to help.
--
This was an editorial Tuesday, I liked it so I posted it.