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Majority of districts fail

ROSEVILLE, Minn. — So how did Iron Range school districts test on the state Adequate Yearly Progress report card under the federal No Child Left Behind Act?

The majority flunked. Five of 12 districts or charter school district passed, seven didn’t, for a 41.7 percent success rate.

Districts meeting the mark, which is at 100 percent compliance in all categories, such as reading and math proficiency, were: Ely, Greenway, Mesabi East, Mountain Iron-Buhl and Nashwauk-Keewatin. Those failing were: Chisholm (88.9 percent compliance), East Range Academy of Technology and Science District in Eveleth (33.3 percent), Eveleth-Gilbert (83.3 percent), Grand Rapids (83.3 percent), Hibbing High School (88.2 percent), St. Louis County Schools (86.4 percent), and Virginia (91.7 percent).

Willie Spelts, Virginia Schools’ Roosevelt Elementary School principal and district assessment coordinator spent a good part of Thursday at the Minnesota Department of Education assessment conference with 950 other educators on AYP.

With almost half of state public schools 937 of 1,920 failing AYP, Spelts said that one result is the assessing of a test.

“Many, many districts are not meeting Adequate Yearly Progress in special education math,’’ he explained, as it is clear that “this isn’t working. That’s why the state is coming up with a new alternative assessment test for special education’’ math.

This is Virginia’s first year as a district in not meeting AYP, and Virginia will network with other districts to focus on two groups not meeting standards, in special education math and lower-income students (free/reduced cost lunch) in math in particular.

“We gotta get going in math,’’ he said, adding that all Range schools should look to improve in that subject.

Special subcategories were some of the reasons for the results. When there are 40 students in a specialized category, a district is “graded’’ on that specific group, such as special education, or Native American, or lower-income students. But in the special education test for alternate skills, only 1 percent of eligible students take the test. If a different number take it, “you can get nicked,’’ Spelts said. “But then you can file an appeal.’’

He said in general he favors testing of students, as it’s “the same test given to every kid,’’ and the state measuring is a framework, he said.

If Virginia does not meet AYP goals by summer 2009, then, “the state Department of Education sends you people to start working through a school improvement plan,’’ Spelts said.

Education is constantly being monitored and assessed, and improvements made, such as with the conference Thursday, he said. Educators need to keep checking if goals are realistic or unrealistic, and adjusting them.

Whether the federal No Child Left Behind Act can meet no child failing by its goal year of 2014 or not, that’s beyond the Virginia district, he said. The district will focus on what they can do. “Whatever’s next, we’re going to do,” he said, adding that “I think kids are getting a high quality education.’’

He did not directly answer a question on if the whole testing process was accurate or realistic. On tests reliability and validity, “That’s a whole other discussion,’’ Spelts said.

http://www.virginiamn.com/articles/2008/08/08/news/doc489bd01d32ffc205463152.txt