BoardBuzz

« Technology forum in Richmond, April 21 | Main | Another school board blogger »

April 18, 2006

NCLB loopholes means many scores not counted

An analysis by Associated Press has revealed that states are helping public schools escape potential penalties by skirting minority student test-score reporting requirements. (Also here.)

Laquanya Agnew and Victoria Duncan share a desk, a love of reading and a passion for learning. But because of a loophole in the No Child Left Behind Act, one second-grader's score in Tennessee counts more than the other's. That is because Laquanya is black, and Victoria is white.

An Associated Press computer analysis has found Laquanya is among nearly 2 million children whose scores aren't counted when it comes to meeting the law's requirement that schools track how students of different races perform on standardized tests.

Minorities make up the vast majority of students whose scores are being excluded. "We're forcing districts and states to play games because the system is so broken, and that's not going to help at all," said Kathy Escamilla, a University of Colorado education professor. "Those are little games to prevent showing what's going on."

Eduwonk and others are pointing out: The initial media tale about NCLB was that it was too inflexible, while the current story is that apparently, all this new flexibility is way too dangerous. The swinging back and forth is making us dizzy.

More from the AP report:

There are about 220 students at West View Elementary School in Knoxville, Tenn., where President Bush marked the second anniversary of the law's enactment in 2004. Tennessee schools have federal permission to exclude students' scores in required racial categories if there are fewer than 45 students in a group.

There are more than 45 white students. Victoria counts.

There are fewer than 45 black students. Laquanya does not.

One of the consequences is that educators are creating a false picture of academic progress.

Posted April 18, 2006 4:12 PM | No Child Left Behind

Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry