No child law changed No child law changed (April 29, 2005)

Requirements eased on special ed students

By Kathy Schrenk

Local school officials are hopeful that changes to the No Child Left Behind act will make testing of English language learners and disabled students easier.

U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings announced earlier this month changes to the law signed by President George W. Bush in 2002.

The original laws aim is to increase school accountability by requiring frequent standardized testing. Schools that don't achieve test score goals can be sanctioned and subjected to increased government oversight.

Many schools, especially those with a high percentage of English language learners, have complained that the law is too restrictive and punishes schools that are doing a good job considering their students' challenges.

The changes to the law would allow for modified tests for students with disabilities and give schools with lower scores more room to improve, rather than trying to reach a set standard given to all schools.

Local educators say the change would be welcome.

The Mountain View-Los Altos High School District hasn't seen any sanctions from the feds as a result of No Child Left Behind, but that is a concern, said Brigitte Sarraf, associate superintendent for educational services.

"Should there be no changes, it will affect us at some point," she said. "It's almost impossible to achieve what they want us to achieve."

In the Mountain View-Whisman Elementary District, three schools are in danger of missing their annual growth target: Slater, Castro and Theuerkauf. If a school fails to meet the U.S. government's tougher accountability standards three years in a row, it could face a state takeover and other sanctions.

Schools that don't make their "adequate yearly progress" (AYP) marks are labeled Program Improvement Schools. Districts must give parents the option to transfer their children out of Program Improvement Schools. Also, federal and state aid given to these schools could be earmarked for tutors, extra academic support services and transportation services.

The changes to No Child Left Behind could help the elementary district, said Modrite Archibeque, assistant superintendent for instruction. Special education students and English language learners simply can't reach the targets set out for them in the act in the time given, she said.

"Some pieces of No Child Left Behind are really good but others are like, who was thinking of what? When?" The law was obviously not crafted by experienced educators, she said.
E-mail Kathy Schrenk at kschrenk@mv-voice.com

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