The Omaha newspaper is reporting that nearly 25% of Nebraska's public schools face penalties
for underachievement in the classroom. Unfortunately, Dorchester Elementary is one of 265 Title I Nebraska schools on the underachievement list.
But Dorchester Elementary isn't in nearly as bad of shape as schools in neighboring communities, which have been on the underachievement list for consecutive years -- and face much stiffer penalties.
Under the federal "No Child Left Behind" law,
the Nebraska Department of Education must identify schools as in need of
improvement when they miss the state’s goals for adequate yearly progress on
state tests in the same subject and grade span for two or more consecutive
years. Schools that receive federal
dollars for educating students in poverty — Title I schools — face consequences
under the law. Each year a school stays
on the list, additional consequences are imposed.
Dorchester's elementary school is one of 136 Nebraska
schools that has been placed on the "Year 1" underachievement penalty
list. Schools on this list must notify
parents in writing of the school’s status and give parents the opportunity to
move their child to another school not on the needs-improvement list. The
district must pay for transportation.
The school must also develop a two-year improvement plan and pay for
extra teacher training. Several area
schools are on this "year 1" list, including Exeter-Milligan Public
Schools, Meridian Public Schools and Shelby-Rising City Public Schools.
Meanwhile, 50 more Nebraska schools
have been on the "underachievement list" for two consecutive years. In addition to the year 1 requirements, year
2 schools must offer free tutoring to children who qualify for free or
reduced-price lunches. You read that
correctly -- free tutoring! Among the
area school districts on this list is Friend Public Schools.
More than 40 Nebraska schools have been on the underachievement
list for three consecutive years. In
addition to the year 1 and year 2 requirements, schools in year 3 must develop
a corrective action plan and take at least one of the following actions:
-- Replace staff who were responsible for failing to make
adequate yearly progress;
-- Implement a new curriculum and train teachers in ways
to help low-achieving students;
-- Significantly decrease management authority at the
school level;
-- Appoint an outside expert to advise the school;
-- Extend the school year or day;
-- Restructure the internal organizational structure of
the school.
Among area schools, Crete Public Middle Schools has been placed on this particular list.
And more than 30 Nebraska schools have been on the underachievement
list for four consecutive years. In
addition to the year 1-3 requirements, school districts in year 4 must begin to
develop a restructuring plan with input from parents and teachers. The plan
must include one of the following options:
-- Replacing all or most of the school staff, including
the principal, who were responsible for the failure to make adequate yearly
progress;
-- Entering into a contract with an entity, such as a
proven, private management company to operate the school;
-- Making major changes to the school’s governance
structure, such as significant staffing changes.
Sadly, Crete Elementary School is on this list.
EDITOR'S NOTE: While we hate seeing Dorchester Elementary and other area schools on this list, and it's easy to point the finger of blame at school faculty, we know the challenges that teachers today face. Teachers, in addition to educating, must also play the role of social worker, financial instructor, and even parent. Let's not forget who is mostly to blame for underachieving youth today -- that is, their parents.
