President Bush campaigned on the education initiative that ‘No child would be left behind’. The Tyrone Area School District is working hard to meet the criteria set forth in the Bush education program.
The emphasis and themes of the program are stronger accountability for results, all children can achieve high standards, state and local flexibility and scientific based research.
“The focal point of no child left behind is that 100 percent of children will reach proficient levels of achievement,” said Tyrone Assistant Superintendent Joann Lang. “The progress is measured against State standards in reading, math and science by 2014. The State will choose several tests which they may choose to administrate. The Terra Nova test is at the top of the list. At Tyrone, we have been administering the Terra Nova test for the past two years.”
There are several goals associated with the ‘No child left behind’ initiate.
“There are many elements that go into the program,” said Lang. “In 2002, a score of 45 in reading and 35 in math on the PSSA test is proficient. Our fifth graders averaged 59 in reading and math, our eighth graders averaged 64 in reading and 67 in math and the eleventh graders scored an 81 in reading and 64 in math. Our test levels have us in good shape as of now.”
Schools can score below the proficiency standards but can stay out of the School Improvement program if their students show a yearly increase and receive bonus points for graduation rates in secondary schools and attendance rates for elementary schools.
“There is a safe harbor clause in the program,” said Lang. “If the percentage in each group not reaching proficiency is reduced 10 percent in a year, the group makes progress on the other indicator (graduation rates, attendance rate) and 95 percent of the students in the group are required to take the assessment. The school would then fall into the safe harbor clause and not face disciplinary action.”
The qualifications of the teachers are also addressed by the ‘No child left behind’ initiative.
“We’re working towards meeting the criteria on teachers in the program,” said Lang. “By 2005-06 all classroom teachers must be highly qualified which means they all must have full certification, a bachelors degree, demonstrated competence in subject knowledge and teaching skills and the Pennsylvania Department of Education has standards that are more demanding than highly qualified.”
This also goes into the paraprofessional levels of education.
“All paraprofessionals newly hired with Title I funds must have completed at least two years of higher education or meet a rigorous standard of quality,” said Lang. “Within four years of the enactment of the policy, all paraprofessionals paid with Title I funds must meet this requirement.”
Thus far, the Tyrone School District has been ahead of the curve.
“We’ve been working hard to provide the best education possible,” said Lang. “We do our best to hire the best teachers possible. If you don’t comply with this program, the State could easily take over your school district. We’ve been taking the Tarra Nova test for the past two years and scoring well on the PSSA test. There are a lot of schools who aren’t where we are, and we have work to do.”
The goal of the program is to have 100 percent of students across America to meet the proficient by the year 2014.
Editor’s Note: Next week in The Daily Herald, we will ask the question is this the right way to go to some teachers and administrators.
