Official expects more schools to fall short of standards
School officials are preparing the public for a summer storm known as No Child Left Behind.
Because of "enormous changes" such as increases in the percentages of students expected to be proficient in reading and math, more rigorous tests in high school, and a high school graduation target that has increased to 85 percent from 50 percent, this year's progress results could depress the public's expectations when announced July 22.
When Clark County School District officials measured last year's academic results using the higher standards for 2009-10, the number of failing schools on paper increased by almost 100 schools, to 266 from 171.
Also using this model, the number of schools showing adequate progress dropped to 94 from 190.
There are 360 district schools that are judged by the performance standards of the law.
"It's not a lack of schools or teachers not doing what they're supposed to be doing," said Sue Daellenbach, the district's director of assessment, at Thursday's School Board meeting. "The changes in the targets have just been enormous."
School Board President Terri Janison got assurances from the staff that