7/6/12

Virginia schools waived from No Child Left Behind benchmarks | LoudounTimes.com

MobileWebsite|Login|Register

StaffDirectory|Advertise|Subscribe|AboutUs AdvancedSearch S E A R CH

News

Opinions Sports

Entertainment Blogs

Video

Classifieds

Jobs RealEstate Advertise

VirginiaschoolswaivedfromNoChildLeftBehindbenchmarks
Friday,Jun.29,2012byLauraPeters,TimesMirrorStaffWriter|0comments|Emailthisstory

10
VirginiaschoolsandschooldivisionswillnolongerhavetomeettheNoChildLeftBehind benchmarks,accordingtoSuperintendentofPublicInstructionPatriciaWright. Thebenchmarksthathavebeenwaivedincludereading,mathematicsandthefederallawthat mandatesallstudentstoachievegradelevelproficiencyby2014. TheVirginiaStateBoardofEducationsapplicationforawaiverforcertainprovisionsunderNo ChildLeftBehindwasapprovedbyU.S.SecretaryofEducationArneDuncanJune29. Virginiaschoolsandschooldivisionscannowfocustheirenergyandresourceson implementingthestateBoardofEducationsrigorousnewcontentstandardsandassessments withoutcontendingwithoutdatedandoftencounterproductivefederalrequirementsand rules,Wrightsaidinarelease.Thecommonwealthwillcontinuetoholdschoolsaccountable forclosingachievementgapsbutschoolswontbesubjecttoasystemofincreasinglyunrealistic annualobjectives. ThewaiverallowsthestateBoardofEducationtoestablishgoalsforincreasingstudent achievementandtheachievementofstudentsindemographicsubgroups.Thewaiveralsosets upannualbenchmarkswiththegoalofreducingthefailurerateinreadingandmathematicsby 50percentwithinsixyears.AccordingtoNoChildLeftBehind,passedin2001,itrequiresall students,regardlessofcircumstance,disabilityorachievementlevel,todemonstrategradelevel proficiencyinreadingandmathematicsby2014. VirginiaschoolswillnolongerreceiveannualAdequateYearlyProgressratings,therelease said.Withthenewlyapprovedwaiver,informationofschoolsmeetingornotmeetingthenew benchmarkswillnowbereportedseparatelyinAugust.TheVirginiaDepartmentofEducation willreportonlowperformingschoolsandidentifythemaspriorityandfocusschools,the releasesaid.Theywillalsorecognizehighperformingschoolsasrewardschools. ThisnewfederalaccountabilitymodelismorecomplicatedthantheBoardofEducation believesisnecessary,butitisdefinitelyastepintherightdirection,VirginiaBoardofEducation PresidentDavidM.Fostersaidinarelease.Lookingahead,itismyhopethatCongresswillat lastreviseNCLBandallowVirginiatoattackachievementgapswithinthecontextoftheSOL program,freefromunwarrantedandintrusivefederalrules. AccordingtotheVirginiaBoardofEducation,priorityschoolswillbeidentifiedbasedonoverall studentachievement,whichincludesgraduationratesinhighschools. Bothpriorityandfocusschoolswillbesubjecttostateapprovedandmonitoredschool improvementinterventions,theboardsays.Priorityschoolswillhavetohaveastateapproved turnaroundpartnertohelptheschoolmeetstateandfederalrequirements.Whilefocus schoolswillhavetoemployastateapprovedcoachtohelpdevelop,implementandmonitor strategiestoimprovestudentperformance,theboardstatedinarelease. Thewaiveralsorequireseachschooldivisiontoimplementtheperformanceandevaluation standardsforteachersandprincipalsthatwereapprovedbytheBoardofEducationlastyear. Accordingtothestandard,40percentofateacherofprincipalevaluationistobebasedon studentacademicprogress.Theboardalsosaidschoolsthatareunpreparedtoimplementthe newperformancestandardsforthe20122013schoolyearmuchhaveacorrectiveplanstating howtheywillbeimplementedinthe20132014schoolyear.

MostPopularinNews
Tuesday,Jul.3|10177views Monday,Jul.2|7255views

UPDATE:RailtoDullespasses Gaycoupleconsideringlawsuitagainst DelgaudiosPublicAdvocate

Tuesday,Jul.3|3363views

Restonmanchargedwithabduction, dischargingfirearm,punchingsmall dog

Wednesday,Jul.4|3034views Monday,Jul.2|1649views

FatalcrashclosesRoute7 UPDATE:Stillnoelectricityinpartsof LoudounCountyonMonday

Stay Connected

FollowUs onTwitter News|Sports

LikeUs onFacebook News&Sports

10
Subscribe viaRSS News|Sports

loudountimes.com/index.php//virginia_schools_waived_from_no_child_left_behind_benchmarks123/

1/2