Fran Eaton over at the Illinois Review sheds some light on the long overdue No Child Left Behind test scores annual report due last October from the State Board of Education. They're now not expected to be public until February!
. . . the scores are horrendous. They indicate five years of failure for numerous schools and school districts. The failures will be found in heavy minority areas.The fifth year of the NCLB assessments are crucial. If a school has failed for five years, it will be forced by federal law to reconstruct. Some south suburban school boards are already in the process, fully aware the bad news is coming.
But here's the real stickler, and something conservatives have consistently overlooked while screaming about the NCLB's perceived federal takeover of education: After five years of school failure, a district must offer choice to the parents. If, as in the case of south suburban Hazelcrest, there are no schools within the district that meet the testing critieria threshold, choice outside of the district must be offered.
Now, perhaps, we can see why the test scores aren't available for public evaluation?
Where's the outrage -- from both parents and taxpayers looking for accountability for their tax dollars? Accountability means doing something when you discover failure, doesn't it?
We can think of nothing to add to that other than the emphasese which are ours as always.
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