Superintendents curious about failing schools list

Larger schools more likely to need help

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

BROWN COUNTY -- A list of 426 of Minnesota elementary schools that need improvement will soon be made known.

The list was created by a computer analysis of the state's 1,007 elementary schools for the state education department. Forty-two percent of the schools need improvement to meet the federal No Child Left Behind Act, according to 2001-02 Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment results.

More than 90 percent of the schools in Minneapolis and St. Paul were identified on the list (110-122). Percentages fell greatly after that. The smaller the school, the less likely it was to be identified.

A little less than half the seven-county metro schools were identified (154-323, 47.7 percent). Outstate schools with more than 2,000 students needed help the most (91-193, 47.2 percent); 1,000-2,000 students (42-137, 30.7 percent), 500-1,000 (18-123, 14.6 percent) and less than 500 (11-109, 10.1 percent).

Department of education data is preliminary. The first actual list based on the latest test results will be released July 31, 2003. Results show big achievement gaps between white, minority and students in poor families.

Other findings:

* Most schools need to improve the progress of special education (55 percent), poor (64 percent) and minority students (25 percent). Less than 2 percent of schools needed improvement based on white students scores.

* Fifty-seven schools could be required to use money to provide supplemental services to students if they fail to make adequate progress this year. Schools that get federal Title 1 funds -- based on the number of poor children in the school -- would be required to set aside 20 percent of the money for programs like after-school tutoring if they don't make adequate annual progress for three years.

Annual tests for students in grades 3-8 are being developed to meet the No Child Left Behind Act. Tests are expected to be in place by 2005.

Meanwhile, the state will hold meetings and training to help schools identify weaknesses and creating a team to make improvement plans. The state Department of Children, Families and Learning will more rigorously seek federal grants to fund teacher training and promote school innovation.

Sleepy Eye Public School Supt. Jay Haugen said its good to want everyone to achieve but financial resources are needed for new programs.

"I'm hopeful that the reports have been done right," Haugen said. "I have lots of questions. I think the school list will change between now and July 31."

Springfield Public School Supt. Dr. Scott Heller agreed it's difficult to deal with school improvements without funding. He considered most schools in this area as high performers.

"Historically, our district has performed well on skills tests," Heller said. "It's a credit to our programs and population at a given time. If you see demographic change, you can see a change in test scores, which really isn't a reflection of programs."

Dr. Stephen Malone, Supt. at GFW, said schools are being asked to provide more and more but need more resources to get the job done.

Comfrey Supt. Bob Meyer said the list came about from the latest test score results. He anticipated summer meetings on the subject. Meyer said future issues schools will face will likely include stricter teacher and paraprofessional licensure requirements in the coming years.