With good reason, the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act frequently is maligned for the unproductive burdens it places on our nation's schools. But its impact hasn't been entirely negative.
A reminder of that came this week when the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction released its Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) review for all public schools and districts. And that is that NCLB holds school systems accountable for the academic performance of its students. There are examples locally of that accountability having positive effects.
Of the dozens of elementary, middle and high schools in the Times readership area, only one did not pass its AYP review. That school was the Monroe Alternative Charter Middle School, and that school fell short in just one area - mathematics. It is positive news to know that every one of the area's other schools meet NCLB standards in test participation, reading, math and other academic indicators (normally graduation and attendance).
Even in this week's negative news, there was a positive.
"We have a pretty good idea by the time we get our test scores, and have already taken steps" to address improvements at Monroe Alternative Charter Middle School, district Superintendent Larry Brown told the Times.
"The priority has to be, look at the kids who need help and get them up to speed," Brown said. "The next (Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Examination test) indicator is when they take the 10th-grade test."
The commitment to improvement spurred by the review has paid off in the district before. The Monroe Alternative High School received unsatisfactory marks last year in math and reading, but were at passing levels in this year's review.
These reviews aren't the only indicator of a school's success, obviously, and results can be skewed for small student populations - something impacting both of Monroe's charter schools. But it's a measure of accountability that can push a school or district to get better.
That's a measure worth preserving.
A reminder of that came this week when the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction released its Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) review for all public schools and districts. And that is that NCLB holds school systems accountable for the academic performance of its students. There are examples locally of that accountability having positive effects.
Of the dozens of elementary, middle and high schools in the Times readership area, only one did not pass its AYP review. That school was the Monroe Alternative Charter Middle School, and that school fell short in just one area - mathematics. It is positive news to know that every one of the area's other schools meet NCLB standards in test participation, reading, math and other academic indicators (normally graduation and attendance).
Even in this week's negative news, there was a positive.
"We have a pretty good idea by the time we get our test scores, and have already taken steps" to address improvements at Monroe Alternative Charter Middle School, district Superintendent Larry Brown told the Times.
"The priority has to be, look at the kids who need help and get them up to speed," Brown said. "The next (Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Examination test) indicator is when they take the 10th-grade test."
The commitment to improvement spurred by the review has paid off in the district before. The Monroe Alternative High School received unsatisfactory marks last year in math and reading, but were at passing levels in this year's review.
These reviews aren't the only indicator of a school's success, obviously, and results can be skewed for small student populations - something impacting both of Monroe's charter schools. But it's a measure of accountability that can push a school or district to get better.
That's a measure worth preserving.
