By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
There were no schools in the Juab School District which
did not make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP.)
Each year, making AYP will be a challenge and may lead to
labels being unfairly applied to some schools.
"There are 40 possible ways to fail the AYP," said Kirk
Wright, superintendent.
Under the accountability provisions in the Federal No
child left Behind Act (NCLB) all public schools are
evaluated for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). Schools,
districts, and the state are required to meet AYP criteria
on three indicators.
If a school has a number of special ed students, it may
cause a school to appear to be failing because all special
education students are expected to operate at the same level
as regular students on tests, said Wright.
"We'll see how this plays out," said Wright. "I hope we
don't get to such a point that we take some things out of
the schools that have been hallmarks, in the past, of a good
education."
Meaning, that such things elementary school programs
might bite the dust in favor of more time in the class room
focused on educational basics.
Each district is graded on tree general categories (1)
participation in testing, (2) language arts and math Core
CRT scores, and (3) either graduation rate (for high
schools) or attendance rate (for elementary and junior high
schools.)
This current report of AYP is based on student scores
taken in the spring of 2003. Attendance and graduation rate
data for Utah school districts will not be used this
year.
In the Juab School District, the following schools made
AYP as determined in all subgroups in the reported
indicators: Mona Elementary School, Nephi Elementary School,
Juab Middle School, and the Juab High School.
The first report indicated that the middle school had not
had enough students participate.
"The Juab Middle School made AYP when a data collection
error was identified and 97% of students in the Special
Education category were found to have taken the required
language arts test instead of 92% as was originally
reported," said Wright.
Wright said he had some concerns about the effect the No
Child Left Behind Act would affect education.
Unfortunately, with the pressure on, it gives an assembly
line feeling to education" said Wright. "It takes some of
the artistry and humanity out of education."
Wright said he also worried about the issue of making AYP
each year might become a political football.
"In some areas of the country there have been teachers
accused of cheating as have been some administrators," said
Wright.
The mistaken action was taken to prevent a school from
ending up being labeled as a failing school.
"Labels applied to schools are onerous," said Wright.
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