Ed board won't accept test averages
2 districts say this is how they met U.S. standards
The board's vote brings to a close months of controversy. It also opens the door to possible changes for next fall: The board will petition the U.S. Department of Education to allow the practice for the 2008 No Child Left Behind reports.
"(Right now) as a state board, we're saying ... you can appeal for (two) reasons, and I don't think it hurts to put in a parentheses, non-uniform averaging is not part of that," said board member Teresa Theurer, who moved the action. "I as a state board member just want to feel really confident that everyone is being held accountable in the same way with the same rules."
The action echoes what the U.S. Department of Education, following inquiries from the Deseret Morning News, told state leaders in late December and what the Utah State Office of Education did not appear willing to enforce as of last week.
The decision is expected to affect 25 schools in Granite School District.
"If the State Board of Education is saying this is inappropriate and if the feds are saying this is inappropriate, we're not going to use (averaging)," Granite Superintendent Stephen Ronnenkamp said.
"The only reason we have used it is because we had an absolute nod ... from the state office, up to the state superintendent," he said. "At no time ever did we want to do anything, nor was it our intent to do anything, that wasn't absolutely above-board and appropriate."
Another seven schools in Davis District met the federal standard because of test-score averaging, but that district last week indicated it would revisit those appeals and not use averaging after all.
No Child Left Behind requires all students, regardless of race, income, disability or language proficiency, to read and do math well by 2014.
School districts have to report schools' progress toward that goal. Schools where one group of kids misses the mark are identified as not making adequate yearly progress (AYP). Low-income or Title I schools that repeatedly fail to make AYP face sanctions.
The state last fall reported 256 Utah schools failed to make AYP.
But the tally since changed.
Davis and Granite districts averaged test scores over three years to allow 32 schools to make AYP on appeal.
But averaging is not in Utah's AYP workbook, which is the state-set blueprint for meeting the federal law. Therefore, not every district knew about it or chose to use it.
Ultimately, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Patti Harrington affirmed the law gives local school districts control over appeals, which only could be made for data errors or extreme circumstances. But she told superintendents they could broadly define those terms and told the Deseret Morning News that a data error could be a reason to use three-year averaging.
Recent comments
Who cares? Businesses care and that is why we are outsourcing to...
More on Calculus | Jan. 14, 2008 at 7:14 a.m.
Who cares if high school students graduate with calculus. What...
Who cares | Jan. 12, 2008 at 3:45 p.m.
You are clueless as to what is actually happening in India and across...
Regarding Calculus | Jan. 12, 2008 at 1:48 p.m.
- Logan canal breaks; people missing 3:58 p.m.
- Man's body found 3:47 p.m.
- 'Love advocates' plan 'kiss-in' 3:46 p.m.
- Many-splendored container garden 3:29 p.m.
- California's $26B deficit 3:25 p.m.
- Eat your squash and blossoms 3:21 p.m.
- Searchers shovel seeking giant worm 3:18 p.m.
- Crash kills Arizona woman 3:13 p.m.
- Lost crab pots 2:56 p.m.
- Lightning delays shuttle launch 2:54 p.m.
- Jazz brass debate Millsap match
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza
- Jazz finances not quite so bleak
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Utahns among Texans' investors
- Cash for Clunkers to get rolling soon
- HBO defends U. logo use in 'Love'
- Jazz rookies quiet Thunder youngsters
- 10 years after the flood
- LDS seminary principal arrested
290 - Jazz brass debate Millsap match
183 - 2 men cited on LDS plaza
143 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
140 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
124 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
99 - Fairness of BCS debated
83 - Letters: Single-payer system best
76 - Services bids farewell to Jackson
70
As more and more dads are put out of work in this economy, I've been...
The photographs are mysterious, brooding, dark. They show dimples and...
wow! i cant believe this! he was a great man and no one expected this. he...
Just another example of the skewed world of professional sports...true...
wow!! he lied to so many!!!!!!
I forgot what I was going to say. Let's go ride bikes!
I have had it up to here......next time I am voting for Prop Hate!
Everyone here blames the victim over the teacher in these cases...regardless...
"friend says..." dang typos.
LDS institutions will not crack down more on this issue...they tend to...
In economic bad times if your neighbor is out of a job, it's a recession. If...
Nice Turns, Tatiana! Nice behind too ;)

