New plan proposed for school accountability scores
State Superintendent John White is proposing a new formula to determine accountability scores for public schools.
High schools would see the biggest shift. Instead of a score based 70 percent on results for the graduation exit exam and 30 percent on graduation rates, they will get a score based half on results from the ACT exam and half on graduation rate.
His proposal depends on whether the state will receive a waiver from federal No Child Left Behind regulations.
The new plan is raising red flags for some educators. Lafayette High principal Dr. Patrick Leonard says he's concerned that his schools performance score could be based on a college entrance exam taken primarily by juniors.
"If a student says, I'm not going to college, why I gotta take that test, my feeling would be that student isn't really gonna try his or her best on that test."
As it stands the ACT doesn't make exceptions for students with special needs or learning disabilities. Making it harder for these students to score the minimum 18 on the ACT. Without at least an 18, the school doesn't earn points.
"We're at sort of a deficit when we start off, before we got the horses out of the barn, we have a problem."
Under this proposed changes things like AP classes, dual-enrollment and senior projects would not factor into scores.
"It's my job and the teachers job to see that the total child is developed, so here we're saying, ok, are you ready for college?."
So far 11 states have applied for the waiver. The deadline is next week, February 21st. You can send your comments on the plan before it's submitted to esea@la.gov.
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