"No Child Left Behind" is working in Lawrence

[Mabus]

just like it did in Houston! If we can get enough "kids in need" to drop out we can boost our local tests scores.

School closing may boost district test scores

By Sarah Fox, Journal-World staff writer

Sunday, January 9, 2005

The closing of Lawrence Alternative High School could result in a better showing for the school district as it strives to meet standards of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

Some students at the alternative school are saying they will drop out if they don't like the new alternative programs being designed for use in the district's other schools. And their absence could boost the district's overall test scores -- a key component of the act's requirements.

"If a significant number of kids drop out, then they won't bring the scores down," said Dick Wedel, a former social studies teacher at LAHS, adding that he hopes they don't drop out. "That's one way to get better scores."

About 10 percent of its students have been reaching "proficient" or higher levels on state tests and district tests in reading, math, science, social studies and writing.

Students are referred to the school through a counselor and administrators. Some were referred after falling behind in regular classwork because of illness. Others had truancy problems. Still others felt lost in the larger FSHS and LHS environments.

**snip**

Why close?

Supt. Randy Weseman said he decided to make the changes based on costs, student performance and two years of study.

The district wasn't getting good enough test scores from students to justify the $750,000 to $1 million annual cost to operate LAHS, he said.

***end of snips** for full article: http://www.ljworld.com/section/schools/story/192724

Let me get this straight. We have (had) an alternative high school for kids who are referred by the school district's counselors because they have problems with attending regular schools. But now these troubled kids aren't snapping into shape quick enough so we're going to interject them back into the mainstream where they don't fit in?!? Right?!?


Makes me crazy!
:grouphug:

[atommom]

1. I see. And then we will pay for their public assistance, (if

the Rs don't succeed in doing away with that), and then court costs and prison costs when they become totally discouraged and turn to crime. NCLB is shooting the poor kids in the foot.

[Lenape85]

2. And, if it' premeditated murder, we have to pay for the death penalty

[atommom]

3. It drives me crazy that Rs are so unwilling to see the human cost

of these policies. Even with the Kansas Supreme Court twisting their arms, many of our legislators are still resistant to spending much more on education. One was quoted as saying that we need to lower our stated standards, so that we will be meeting them! :argh:

[Mabus]

4. and along with this the local newspaper is reporting about homelessness

or more specifically that the homeless are increasingly unwelcome in and around downtown. Guess what, they are going to create even more for the sake of "leave no child behind."

What's so sad is that the development crowd around here constantly labels liberals as NIMBYs, yet they don't seem to realize that closing the alternative high school will increase the number who feel disenfranchised. So if they don't give these kids a chance at the alternative high school then where else are they going go when they drop out? Guess, hanging out downtown with their new peers.