The Federal Law that guides all U.S. schools was last updated in 2002.  That year, the law gained the moniker “No Child Left Behind (NCLB).”  The law has been due for review since 2007.  While the law helped schools around the country make improvements, there are still significant flaws.  President Obama allowed states the opportunity to apply for waivers; Vermont worked on a waiver but eventually withdrew from the process.  Thus, Vermont schools are still accountable for all aspects of this legislation.

A key feature of NCLB is the use of one time, “high stakes” tests to determine whether or not schools are making “adequate yearly progress.”  Schools are held to an artificially determined standard for all students, including those with disabilities and those with fewer advantages.  While we strongly support accountability and growth, many of the “sanctions” imposed by the law make little sense in a rural state.

At MBS, our students exceed the state standard in reading, writing, math and science as measured by the annual New England Common Assessment Program.  Still, we have significant achievement gaps between “all” students and those with disabilities or those from lower income homes.  Under the law, a school needs to have at least 40 students in these subgroups before the data is used to “identify” a school.  Thus, PPS and UMS are not “identified,” because they do not have 40 students in these subgroups.  However, when the populations merge at MBS and on to CMS, the subgroup size increases.

This year, MBS is one of the “identified” schools to undertake a process called “restructuring.”  A team of MBS teachers is examining 81 indicators of effective schools that have been drawn from  research.  Through this examination, we will identify 3 – 5 priorities that will be approached through a “restructuring” plan aimed at closing the aforementioned achievement gap.  The District is going through a similar process.

Several of the indicators are related to parent and family involvement and engagement.  In order to fully assess our status in relation to these indicators, I need to get input from YOU!  I will be talking about this at the next PTO meeting on November 8th at 6 p.m. in the MBS library.  We have free childcare available.  I hope to see many of you there!