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64 SCHOOLS FORCED TO MEND THEIR WAYS
Arizona Republic
October 18, 2006
FAILED TO MEET TEST STANDARDS FOR 4 YEARS IN A ROW Arizona Republic, The
(Phoenix, AZ) October 18, 2006
Author: Pat Kossan, The Arizona Republic Estimated printed pages: 3
A record 64 Arizona schools, including many in low-incomes areas of Phoenix,
will be required to change the way they conduct business after failing to meet
federal standards for four or more consecutive years.
In August, the state reported that 618 schools failed new and tougher 2006
federal academic standards, a record number for the state. State officials will
intervene in the daily operations of schools that failed to meet "adequate
yearly progress" four or more years.
The state released the final list Friday after reviewing student testing data
and considering written appeals.
For a school to pass the standards, all students must improve AIMS reading and
math scores, and schools must test 95 percent of their students. High schools
must improve graduation rates or meet a 71 percent threshold.
Students in specific groups, such as children living in poverty or learning to
speak English, also must meet the criteria.
This year, federal officials toughened the standards, requiring schools to
include more test scores from English language learners. Officials also enforced
new guidelines about how much help teachers can give special education students
when taking the test.
After a school fails for four years, the state assigns a coach who monitors
progress while helping the school make changes. Those might include improving
teacher training or coordinating reading or math programs. The schools are
eligible for federal grants of as much as $60,000 to develop a new plan.
If a school continues to lag for in the fifth and sixth years, the demands for
change get tougher, such as firing the principal, replacing teachers or adding
mentors.
Once a school makes the list, it takes two consecutive years of passing to get
off.
Failing Valley schools
Here are Valley schools that failed "adequately yearly progress" four or
more years.
F0UR YEARS
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Community Schools: Salt River High School.
Roosevelt Elementary District: C.O. Greenfield School, Valley View School.
Gila Bend Unified District: Gila Bend Elementary.
Paradise Valley Unified District: Palomino Primary School.
Creighton Elementary District: Creighton Elementary School, Gateway School.
Fowler Elementary District: Fowler Elementary School.
Alhambra Elementary District: Andalucia Middle School.
Cartwright Elementary District: Estrella Middle School, Desert Sands Middle
School.
Maricopa County Regional District: Lone Cactus Regional High School.
Isaac Elementary District: J.B. Sutton Elementary School, P.T. Coe
Elementary School.
Washington Elementary District: Mountain View Elementary School, Sunnyslope
Elementary School.
Avondale Elementary District: Lattie Coor School.
Phoenix Union High School District: North High School.
Phoenix Elementary District: M.M. Bethune School.
Chandler Unified District: Galveston Elementary.
FIVE YEARS
Cartwright Elementary District: Frank Borman Middle School.
Omega Academy, Inc.: Omega Academy Charter School.
Dysart Unified District: El Mirage School.
Isaac Elementary District: Pueblo Del Sol Middle School.
Glendale Elementary District: Glendale Landmark Middle School.
Coolidge Unified District: McCray Junior High.
SIX YEARS
Phoenix Advantage: Phoenix Advantage Charter School.
Roosevelt Elementary District: Ignacio Conchos.
Isaac Elementary District: Isaac Middle School.
Glendale Elementary District: Challenger Middle School.
How well do students perform at your child's school? Check test scores and
more at schools.azcentral.com.
Reach the reporter at pat.kossan@arizonarepublic.com.
Edition: Final
Section: Phoenix Community North
Page: 4
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