By Don Heinzman

ECM Editorial Contributor 

Labeling how Minnesota schools are not making adequate yearly progress (AYP) is leading residents to believe that Minnesota does not have quality public schools.

This report by the Minnesota Department of Education is the result of testing students under the provisions of the federal No Child Left Behind Law.

It comes at a time when Minnesota school districts will be asking taxpayers for more property tax dollars in November. It raises the question if taxpayers are getting their money’s worth from its public school system.   Such impressions could translate into “no” votes where passage of levy referendums is critical.

The Minnesota Department of Education reported that this year 937 schools failed to make AYP while 983 schools made the standard.

Of the 937 who failed, 426 schools didn’t make it because students in one subgroup category failed either the math or reading test.

Subgroup scores as used to determine AYP for schools are damaging reputations of good schools.  (The subgroups are listed separately with this opinion.)  Unless the standards are modified, it’s difficult to believe all but one percent of kids with learning disabilities will pass the tests.

The goal of the No Child Left Behind Act is to have 100 percent proficiency in math and reading by 2014.  This is an impossible task considering the subgroupings, particularly those in special education.

Not only does Minnesota have more rigorous tests than some other states, the NCLB requires the state to keep raising the percentage of those who pass the tests.  In addition the bar is set higher for each school based on its test results.

In 2004, a state auditor looked at the NCLB law and said more than 80 percent of Minnesota elementary schools would not meet AYP by 2014, target for the law.

Educators wonder why they should be concerned when even Edina High School, known nationally, can’t make AYP.

Suburban schools in particular will struggle for 100 percent AYP, because their diverse population results in more subgroups compared to outstate schools.

State Commissioner Alice Seagren, a Republican governor appointee, said in a press release, that Minnesota is preparing every Minnesota student for success in high school and “AYP can be used as a vital tool for moving forward with that goal.”

Even Commissioner Seagren, however, sensing the misleading process, says schools are doing a good job “with most of our children.”

She also said schools need to focus on the children in the subgroups.

Commissioner Seagren should know better than most how much school districts now spend out of their operating funds to subsidize expensive but worthy education for the disabled learners.

Before the public jumps to conclusions about the quality of public schools, they should examine why their school did not make AYP and ask legislators to change the law so the true quality of the public school system is measured and understood by the public who pays for the public school system.

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