One-Third of Mo. Districts Haven't Met Federal Academic Goals 
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Aug. 14
ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- Nearly one-third of the state's 524 school districts learned Monday they have fallen short of federal education standards — a list that a state education official cautioned will grow as government benchmarks become more rigorous. 
    The local districts notified that they've fallen short of the academic goals established under the federal No Child Left Behind Act include Hazelwood, Fort Zumwalt, Francis Howell and Parkway, which last year claimed more National Merit Scholars than any other district in the state.  "This is indicative of the bigger picture and demonstrates why everyone in public education has to drill deeper to find students who are not successful and to find out why they are not successful," said Parkway district spokesman Paul Tandy.  In Parkway, Carman Trails and Hanna Woods elementary schools were singled out for missing state benchmarks.  Assistant State Education Commissioner Stan Johnson said most of the 167 districts landed on the "improvement list" because specific groups of students, such as those needing special education and those learning English as a second language, fell short on state tests.
    "To paint an entire district with a broad brush when, in fact, the areas in need of improvement are very narrow is very misleading," said Brent Ghan, chief communications officer of the Missouri School Boards Association.  But the idea behind No Child Left Behind is that if one group of students falls short academically, the whole school falls short.  The federal law requires that by 2014, all students be proficient in reading and math. States must set goals each year for the percentage of students that must score proficient on state tests, gradually increasing to 100 percent.  Missouri, for example, set a goal of 18.4 percent of students scoring proficient on the Missouri Assessment Program test in communication arts in 2002. By this spring, more than half of students must hit that mark. 
    Schools and districts that fail to make such annual progress in academics and also miss targets for attendance and graduation rates for two consecutive years are added to the improvement list.  The rising expectations each year will cause more and more school districts to land on the improvement list, Johnson predicted.  Districts on the list must upgrade school improvement plans and notify parents of the federal designation. Parkway, Francis Howell and Fort Zumwalt sent mass e-mails to parents on Monday.  Fort Zumwalt Superintendent Bernard DuBray said the district plans to notify parents at Forest Park, Hawthorn and Lewis & Clark elementary schools as soon as possible of their option to send their children to one of 12 other elementary schools in the district. School starts Monday.  Johnson said he doesn't expect the classification of these districts to change when the state releases this year's Missouri Assessment Program scores on Friday.
    Johnson cited a recent National Center for Education Statistics report that found Missouri students proficient in math, reading, science and writing as evidence that the state is holding its own academically.  "Our standards are pretty tough," he said. "Proficiency in Missouri means proficiency."  House Minority Whip Roy Blunt, R-Springfield, Mo., said the list demonstrates why No Child Left Behind deserves close scrutiny as it faces congressional reauthorization.  "It has been overly burdensome to educators and parents alike," Blunt said in a statement. "And, it is a step across the bright line principle of local officials knowing what is best for education. There may be ways to improve NCLB by providing local educators more flexibility." 

August 15, 2007
    When I came to ISS five years ago, I discovered an issue that had been going on for several years. Teachers were having to call their own substitutes. As a high school principal many years ago, I always went to work around 6:00 a.m. and teachers who were sick called me and I called subs. If I was absent, the assistant principal handled the duties. I was amazed that our teachers had to call their own substitutes. Quite often getting a substitute could take 20 -30 minutes. Imagine a sick baby crying while you are trying to get a substitute. Imagine you are very ill with a stomach virus and you have to stay on the phone for 20-30 minutes trying to reach a substitute. This was a bad situation and every year, teachers have asked the Board of Education to address this problem. Every year, this was a top budget request from teachers. Finally, we have found a way to fund this request through an inexpensive technology platform. Teachers will either log in to a computer site and request a substitute or call the computer site and request a substitute. The computer and an office professional then ensure that substitutes are arranged for in schools where they are needed. Great benefit - right??? Well today, we begin to get calls about what a waste of money this is and the calls are from teachers. GO FIGURE????
    This issue is just one of many where things we do will never please everyone. The Board of Education makes decisions with the best interests of students and teachers in mind. In this case, I think they made a very wise decision. One that will impact teacher morale and satisfaction. Time will tell whether or not the investment was a good one. Until then, the debate will continue. Let me know or your local newspaper know what you think about this.

August 14, 2007
    On Monday, August 13, I attended the Blue Ribbon Commission on Accountability. This group has been meeting for several months in order to make recommendations to the State Board of Education on how to improve the NC testing and accountability system. The group is getting close to finalizing recommendations. Many of the group think that NC needs a writing program but the current writing assessment at grades 4,7, and 10 does not appear to give a balanced view of how students are performing in writing. Therefore, the Commission may recommend an alternative to the current writing assessments. I would be interested in hearing from more teachers, parents, and students about this issue. Just e-mail me through the connection above.
    Another recommendation would be the elimination of any test that is not required by No Child Left Behind. Currently, we are required by NCLB to test reading and math in grades 3-8 and once in high school. Also, science is being added at 5th, 8th and high school biology this year to the NCLB requirements. This recommendation would eliminate computer tests and numerous End of Course tests. I would like to hear from teachers, parents, and students on this issue also.
    Finally, if you have other recommendations that I could take to our next Commission meeting on September 17, please let me know. I have been very vocal about getting curriculum standards that teachers can actually address within a school year and also getting teachers support for the curriculum through instructional materials and formative assessments on-line.

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