State tightens the reins on failing schools
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
A new law that goes into effect today seeks to prevent school districts in Missouri from bouncing back and forth between barely meeting and not meeting state standards, giving the state more power to take over a struggling district.
Under previous law, a district that lost accreditation had two full years to improve and regain accredited status.
If the district failed to make sufficient progress, it could face sanctions as severe as a state takeover. But if districts made enough improvements to regain partial accreditation, but then lost accreditation again, they would be entitled to yet another two-year grace period.
Critics called it the "yo-yo effect," with school districts being able to dodge tough state penalties by making modest but fleeting improvements. That had happened for years with the