State sets new bar for at-risk students

The State Board of Education decided Friday how it will judge schools regarding how ethnic minorities, low income children and other students at risk for academic trouble are doing.

Basically, every student except Caucasian, native English-speakers who are able to pay for school lunch will be regarded as one at-risk student group.

That group must either have enough students scoring as proficient on tests, or show sufficient academic growth or the whole school will be identified as "needs assistance."

The school also must clear two other hurdles to avoid that designation. Ninety-five percent of a school's students must take tests. And the school as a whole has to have enough students testing as proficient or showing growth.

School accountability reports will be posted online beginning in December.

The state thinks more schools will have to answer for at-risk kids under its plan.

Some education leaders disagree.

And two big unknowns remain:

• Where will the state set the bar for what's acceptable? That ultimately determines how many schools need assistance. An answer is expected Oct. 18.

• What does "needing assistance" mean? Currently, there is no money earmarked for such a category.

"I think the saddest piece would be, if by law, we have identified these schools, and there's no assistance (from the Legislature) available to them," state assessment director Judy Park said.

Friday's action responds to legal requirements of the Utah Performance Assessment System for Students, or U-PASS, a series of tests, extensive reporting requirements and accountability.

The State Office of Education for years has reported exam results for student groups, plus other information, such as years of teacher experience.

But the state has been working to develop the accountability piece, or an ultimate judgment on whether schools are up to snuff.

Along the way, people have worried the state wouldn't hold schools accountable for performance of ethnic minorities, students with disabilities, English language learners and other at-risk student groups.

Friday, Park unveiled the single subgroup plan (see www.usoe.org for more information.)

She believes an all-encompassing at-risk group would hold more schools' feet to the fire.