ARIZONA GETS MOSTLY DS IN U.S. EDUCATION REPORT
Arizona Republic
March 1, 2007
Author: Pat Kossan, The Arizona Republic Estimated printed pages: 1

Arizona's K-12 education system received mostly Ds in a report released Wednesday by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Few states came through unscathed in the chamber's "Leaders and Laggards: A State-by-State Report Card on Educational Effectiveness." It says the American school system is as out of date as a "1930s manufacturing plant."

Among the nine areas graded, Arizona took a beating for its high percentage of high school freshmen who don't go on to college. The report also dinged the state for AIMS test results that paint a rosy picture of student progress when some of the same students score far lower on national tests.

The report apparently erred in marking down the state for not creating quicker ways to get teachers trained and into classrooms; such programs exist in Arizona.

The state's best grades: a B for rigor of grade-level teaching standards and an A for giving principals control over their schools and giving parents choice through a charter school program.
Edition: Final Chaser
Section: VALLEY & State
Page: B8

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Record Number: pho164647430