
The Post looked at scores on reading and math tests, and went to the lowest-ranking school in the lowest-ranking state: Como Elementary School in Mississippi. It is exactly the type of school that the law was supposed to help, "but in Como and other poor, rural districts around the country, the law's regimen of testing and sanctions has had little, if any, effect," writes Whoriskey, who also took the photo, below, of Como students. (Encarta map)
"Despite abysmal test scores, Como earned a passing grade under No Child Left Behind, largely because the standards of student proficiency, which are determined individually by the states, have been set so low in Mississippi. Its small size also exempts it from some standards. The resulting passing grade -- it makes 'adequate yearly progress' -- has exempted Como Elementary from any of the corrective actions dictated by the law."

No comments:
Post a Comment