As we near the beginning of a new school year, the recent release of test scores has some parents puzzled and some educators exasperated. Many people have contacted me with questions and frustrations.  Here’s a brief response to three of the most frequently asked questions:

1.      If the school our child(ren) attend(s) is on the list, does this mean the school is failing?  Should I be looking for another school? 

No, and not necessarily.  The recently released tests show how students from each school are doing on statewide tests of reading and math.  The federal government, through its No Child Left Behind Law, requires that each state set its own standards in these areas, and then test students to see how they are doing.

The federal law requires virtually all students (except a very small percentage of severely mentally handicapped students and students who are just starting to learn English, to be “proficient” by 2014.  Most educators and researchers think that this is an unrealistic expectation, unless the standards are very low.

The NCLB law requires that each school have a growing percentage of its students ranked “proficient.”  Yearly targets are set, based in part on the expectation of 100% proficiency (with exceptions noted above) and how well a school’s students did the previous year.  Even if 95% of a schools’ students are proficient, if a group of 40 or more low income, limited English speaking, female, male, or specific racial group fails to meet the standard, the school will be placed on the “needs improvement list.” 

Students, like schools are more than test scores. Does the youngster feel safe, encouraged and respected?  Does the youngster look forward to attending school?  Is the student making progress academically and with other students?  Wise families consider these and other issues in selecting a school.

2.       If our child’s school is not on the list, does that mean the school is fine?  No.  Please consider the questions just above.  A school may have high scores but have other problems.   Sometimes families look for another school because their youngster is bored or is because other youngsters are not treating her/him well.  Test scores are NOT enough to determine whether a school is the best place for your youngster.

3.       Isn’t NCLB really an attempt to discredit public education?  Many educators have asked me about this. When he was alive, the late Senator Paul Wellstone strongly urged Senate Democrats not to agree to key provisions of the NLCB law.  However, Senator Ted Kennedy was a strong, powerful supporter of the law (as well as a strong supporter of public education). Without his efforts, the law would not have been adopted.  It may be that Senator Kennedy was misinformed and, as he has more recently insisted, felt that more money would accompany the legislation.  But Kennedy clearly supported key aspects of the legislation.

Students learn best with informed, encouraging families and knowledgeable, positive educators.  This column will try to help with both in the coming year.