August 13, 2004
By Beverly A. Carroll - Staff Writer
Tory Newmyer and Kathleen Baydala - Contributors
Chattanooga Times Free Press
More of Hamilton County's public schools met all student achievement standards of the federal No Child Left Behind Act this year, but a handful of schools face tighter sanctions after failing to make adequate progress.
'This is solid improvement — coming on an upward trend over the last two years,' schools Superintendent Jesse Register said Thursday. 'This is a factual record that says this system is moving up.'
Out of 79 schools, 53 met the federal benchmarks that measure academic achievement, attendance and graduation rates. Last year 40 out of 80 schools met the target. Franklin Middle School closed this summer, reducing the district's number of schools from 80 to 79.
Hamilton County Board of Education member Debra Matthews said the district's performance refutes the view held by some that the school system is headed in the wrong direction.
'It shows that we are headed in the right direction,' Ms.Matthews said. 'The system is in a better condition than it was yesterday.'
Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey congratulated the schools that improved.
'As I've said many times before, I think the school system has some strengths and we need to continue to build on them,' Mr. Ramsey said. 'Are the schools perfect? No. Have they got a long way to go? Absolutely. But they are probably better than they are perceived to be, and they are continuing to improve.'
ACHIEVEMENTS BREAKDOWN
State education officials reported that 81 percent of Tennessee's 1,677 schools met the 45 benchmarks set by the No Child Left Behind Act About 19 percent failed one of the standards for the first or second time. A school that fails to meet any one of the standards is placed in one of six categories: target, school improvement, on notice, probation/improving, corrective action/improving and alternative governance.
Last year, 47 percent of the state's schools were listed on a target or high-priority list.
At 81 percent, Tennessee topped several Southeastern states in the percentage of schools meeting all federal standards. Seventy eight percent of Georgia's schools met the standards, but only 23 percent of those in Florida.
Fifteen local schools moved off the target list. Hardy Elementary moved off probation status, one of only three elementary schools statewide to make that move, schools officials said. The 500 students at that school had to meet the No Child Left Behind standards two years in a row to get off the list.
'Four years ago Hardy was one of the lowest-performing schools in the state,' Dr. Register said. 'Thanks to the hard work of the administration and teachers today it is not on a list.”
Hardy principal Natalie Elder thanked the students and teachers, who hugged each other and wiped tears from their eyes after the news conference.
“ We are a school of excellence,' Ms. Elder said.
Chattanooga City Councilman Yusuf Hakeem, a former city school board member, said Thursday's results show Hardy and the school district are progressing.
'The figures say when we work together— the parents, teachers, students and government— things can improve,' Mr. Hakeem said. 'I feel that we are on the right track. Right now we need to get beyond the personality issues that are overshadowing what is in the best interest of the students.'
ON THE TARGET LIST
This year, four new schools, Sale Creek middle and high schools, 21st Century Academy, Sequoyah Technology Center and Soddy-Daisy High School, moved onto the target list. Schools officials said they will challenge the labels for three of those schools.
'We are challenging Sale Creek and 21st Century on graduation rates and Sequoyah on the grounds of its status,' said Dr. Kirk Kelly, schools director of testing and accountability.
The threshold to meet the graduation benchmark was raised from 60 percent of students graduating in four years in the first year of the federal plan to 90 percent last year. The vocational school is not a standalone school that graduates students, Dr. Kelly said.
Of the six schools facing stricter sanctions, two have undergone changes in administration and staff schools officials said. The state approved plans for Dalewood Middle School and East Lake Elementary, which required restructuring and alternative governance because they did not meet federal benchmarks for the second year in a row. The schools already were on academic probation under the state's accountability plan, which was merged with the 2002 federal accountability program.
The other schools, Calvin Donaldson, Orchard Knob and Woodmore elementary schools and Chattanooga Middle Museum Magnet School, will receive additional help from the state, Dr. Kelly said.
Orchard Knob Middle School moved to corrective action/Improving status, meeting all 45 benchmarks. Dr. Kelly said.
The middle school faces no sanctions and must meet all the benchmarks next year to get off the list
'The state is saying, 'What you did last year worked well so keep doing that.’' Dr. Kelly said.
State education officials said some recently approved flexibility will help districts next year. Locally many schools made the target list because of attendance, schools officials said. Chattanooga Middle would have moved out of correction action if it had made the 93 percent attendance rate. Dr. Kelly said.
Next year schools will be able to average two years of attendance instead of one. English language learners and special education students will have five years to earn a diploma.
Staff writers Tory Newmyer and Kathleen Baydala contributed to this story.
E-mail Beverly A. Carroll at bcarroll@timesfreepress.com