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| CCBOE Supports NCLB Legislation |
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Dr. Lisa Soloff-Director
The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) is a federal law that is designed to improve student achievement and change the culture of America’s schools by focusing on instruction and methods for success. The law provides an overall system for improving student achievement. This law has four pillars:
· Accountability for results
· Emphasis on doing what works based on scientific research
· Expanded parental options (parent choice/supplemental services)
· Expanded local control and flexibility
Every child in the United States will be required to meet the standards set forth by this new law starting this year. Under this law, each state is given the flexibility to define their standards in ensuring that students are “ proficient” in reading and mathematics. Schools must meet Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), which is the minimum level of achievement as determined by NCLB and the state standards. Achievement will be tracked for the school as a whole as well as each of the following subgroups within a school: ethnicity (African-American, Asian, Hispanic/Latino, Multi-Racial, Native American/Pacific Islander, and White); poverty (free/reduced lunch); limited English proficient; and students with disabilities.
The school as a whole, as well as each subgroup, must meet the standards. NCLB brings a different perspective to how we classify schools needing improvement in Georgia and Columbia County. It looks each year at whether a school met Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). For a school in Georgia to make AYP, Georgia has defined AYP as:
· each subgroup and the school overall must make AYP in both reading/language arts and math, using the Criterion-Referenced Competency tests (CRCT) for elementary and middle grades, and the Georgia Graduation Test (GHSGT) for high school.
· each school must test at least 95 percent of all students, as well as 95% of students in each subgroup. Elementary and Middle Schools use attendance as a second indicator. High Schools must use the graduation rate as a second indicator. If even one subgroup doesn’t make AYP, then the whole school doesn’t make AYP.
· Any school that does not make AYP for two years in a row will be identified as “needing school improvement” or NI. Parents must be offered the choice of attending another school in the district that is not in school improvement.
· If the school does not make AYP for three years in a row, the school is still identified as “needing school improvement” or (NI). Parents must be offered choice or additional educational and tutoring opportunities for economically disadvantaged children at the school (supplemental services) and a corrective action plan must be developed.
· If the school does not make AYP for four years in a row, the school is still identified as “needing school improvement” or (NI). In addition to parents being offered choice and supplemental services a restructuring plan is developed.
Principals, teachers, parents and students each have a part to play in ensuring the success of each individual child.
CCBOE has already set System Goals for 2003-2006, which focus on academic achievement for all students, safe school environment, community involvement, equity and efficient and effective support operations - all of which are the basis for the NCLB law.
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