Despite push for tougher standards, Canyons high schools off the mark on NCLB

SALT LAKE CITY — "Rigor" is the word used by administrators to describe Canyons School District's approach to education. From its plans to institute advanced and honors diplomas to its goals of reconfiguring grades to promote college and career preparation, the district seeks to be an academic leader in Utah.

Yet in its first year of operation, none of the district's four high schools made federal testing requirements under the No Child Left Behind education law. NCLB requires a certain percentage of students to test on-grade level in math and language arts, and each year, results are released charting schools' Adequate Yearly Process.

So how do AYP results fit in with the district's academic plan?

Hal Sanderson, director of institutional research and assessment for Canyons, said the tests used to determine AYP are centered on comprehension of core curriculum, which is of utmost importance. Students in Utah take the Criterion Referenced Test in the spring of each year. Yet AYP only looks at the results from certain grades and classes at the high school level, making the results only a partial look at a school's progress.

"AYP is part of the story of high school performance and academic achievement," Sanderson said. "But it's by no means a complete, broad look at high school achievement."

Something nationally debated regarding AYP is the fact that if one subgroup of students at a school doesn't make AYP — even by a small margin — the entire school doesn't pass.

That's what happened at all of Canyons' high schools. One subgroup, whether it was "low income" or "students with disabilities," passed in one of the two subject areas, but not the other, resulting in a failing grade for the whole school.

"We view all data about our schools, including AYP reports, to be invaluable in our efforts to provide the best education possible to all students in Canyons School District," said Ginger Rhode, Canyons deputy superintendent and chief academic officer. "This year's AYP results will be closely examined, along with other testing information about our students, in our continued efforts to improve and support quality instruction."