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State news in breif for May 16
5/15/2008 9:23 PM -
Report: Poor training led to 9 S.C. fire deaths
5/15/2008 9:23 PM -
SC may let motorcycles run red lights
5/15/2008 9:23 PM -
Classmates send Bible to teen accused of school bomb plot
5/15/2008 9:23 PM -
Governor says ’shampoo bill’ highlights wacky SC laws
5/14/2008 11:26 PM -
SC fire chief announces retirement year after blaze killed 9
5/14/2008 11:25 PM -
Educators in SC to be trained to prevent student abuse
5/14/2008 11:24 PM -
Sheriff: $11M in marijuana plans found in Chester County
5/14/2008 11:23 PM -
Legislator handling payday lending bill took industry money
5/14/2008 8:30 PM -
Fire destroys Georgetown County beach home, damages 7 others
5/14/2008 8:30 PM
Local
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Council shelves youth curfew: Strong public dissent pushes City leaders to consider other avenues
5/15/2008 9:13 PM
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Local news for May 16
5/15/2008 9:35 PM
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PACT to get axe; new test in works
5/15/2008 9:12 PM
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School repair delays held off
5/15/2008 9:23 PM
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Class to assist in library dedication
5/15/2008 9:23 PM
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Aiken Estates works to improve sense of community, involvement
5/15/2008 9:23 PM
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Police look for woman in check scam
5/15/2008 9:13 PM
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Popeyes is open again after fire damaged building
5/15/2008 9:13 PM
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Filmmaker screens Derby documentary in Aiken
5/15/2008 9:13 PM
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Eight Belles' death a major topic at Thoroughbred panel
5/15/2008 9:23 PM
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Drive-offs decrease at prepay gas pumps
5/15/2008 9:13 PM
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Research group to work with SRNL
5/15/2008 9:13 PM
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Passport Fair will be held at the post office
5/15/2008 9:13 PM
State to ask for changes in No Child Left Behind
3/21/2008 12:18 AM
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By ROB NOVIT
Senior writer
The State Department of Education plans to apply to the U.S. Education Department to obtain new flexibility in labeling schools who don't meet federal Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) requirements.
Up to 10 states would get this authorization, along with the opportunity to put more emphasis and support on those schools that need the most help, State Superintendent of Education Dr. Jim Rex said in a telephone interview.
"This would allow us to refine even further our system of support, targeting funds more efficiently," he said.
Currently, more than 100 schools are eligible for technical assistance funds, said Rex. All get the same funding from the S.C. General Assembly, including the 16 schools identified as the most poorly-performing in the state.
"It would only be fair for South Carolina to be one of those 10 states," said Dr. David Mathis, Aiken's associate superintendent for administration. "We certainly have one of the highest standards for meeting AYP."
The federal No Child Left Behind Act often has come under fire since its passage in 2001. One complaint from educators is the regulation that allows states to set their own definitions of "proficiency." Some have set the bar low, while South Carolina has one of the highest requirements to achieve student proficiency.
Rex anticipates that NCLB will go through a major revision following the presidential election in November. The current action by Education Secretary Margaret Spellings indicates the "the department is saying even before the election that some changes need to be made," said Rex.
Another concern about NCLB is its use of an "all or nothing" philosophy. The federal act requires schools to meet proficiency standards for all subgroups - including minority, low-income, special needs and English as Second Language (ESL) students. A school may have as many as 21 objectives to meet. If one school misses 10 objectives and another school misses just one, both are designated as "needs improvement" or failing schools.
"It's frustrating to the schools, especially for middle schools with large numbers of subgroups," said Mathis. "The unequal calibration of standards makes it virtually impossible for middle schools to meet all the standards."
In speeches in Aiken and throughout South Carolina, the state superintendent has been promoting his own education reform measure. A bill has gotten through the S.C. House that could address some issues.
One component of that legislation calls for changing the now-familiar PACT exams by 2010 with testing programs that provide teachers with information about each student's strengths and weaknesses on the tests. Rex hopes the S.C. Senate will support his preference for replacing PACT in 2009.
"You want to replace that test sooner than later," he said. "I don't want to ask parents and students to continue with a test they know doesn't work."
Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.
3/21/2008 12:18 AM
0 comments on this story E-mail this story to a friendBy ROB NOVIT
Senior writer
The State Department of Education plans to apply to the U.S. Education Department to obtain new flexibility in labeling schools who don't meet federal Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) requirements.
Up to 10 states would get this authorization, along with the opportunity to put more emphasis and support on those schools that need the most help, State Superintendent of Education Dr. Jim Rex said in a telephone interview.
"This would allow us to refine even further our system of support, targeting funds more efficiently," he said.
Currently, more than 100 schools are eligible for technical assistance funds, said Rex. All get the same funding from the S.C. General Assembly, including the 16 schools identified as the most poorly-performing in the state.
"It would only be fair for South Carolina to be one of those 10 states," said Dr. David Mathis, Aiken's associate superintendent for administration. "We certainly have one of the highest standards for meeting AYP."
The federal No Child Left Behind Act often has come under fire since its passage in 2001. One complaint from educators is the regulation that allows states to set their own definitions of "proficiency." Some have set the bar low, while South Carolina has one of the highest requirements to achieve student proficiency.
Rex anticipates that NCLB will go through a major revision following the presidential election in November. The current action by Education Secretary Margaret Spellings indicates the "the department is saying even before the election that some changes need to be made," said Rex.
Another concern about NCLB is its use of an "all or nothing" philosophy. The federal act requires schools to meet proficiency standards for all subgroups - including minority, low-income, special needs and English as Second Language (ESL) students. A school may have as many as 21 objectives to meet. If one school misses 10 objectives and another school misses just one, both are designated as "needs improvement" or failing schools.
"It's frustrating to the schools, especially for middle schools with large numbers of subgroups," said Mathis. "The unequal calibration of standards makes it virtually impossible for middle schools to meet all the standards."
In speeches in Aiken and throughout South Carolina, the state superintendent has been promoting his own education reform measure. A bill has gotten through the S.C. House that could address some issues.
One component of that legislation calls for changing the now-familiar PACT exams by 2010 with testing programs that provide teachers with information about each student's strengths and weaknesses on the tests. Rex hopes the S.C. Senate will support his preference for replacing PACT in 2009.
"You want to replace that test sooner than later," he said. "I don't want to ask parents and students to continue with a test they know doesn't work."
Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.
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