Post by Marc LeVine on Dec 15, 2006 9:37:16 GMT -5
Let your legislators know what you think!
Tuesday, 05 December 2006
Dear Parents,
In response to the 2007 reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), the FRHSD Board of Education is asking community residents to join us in a letter writing campaign addressing critical provisions of the law.
The FRHSD is committed to the primary objectives of NCLB to provide a strong academic education for all children, to promote high expectations, and to close the achievement gap. However, as with any new law, there are several practical flaws in the Act that should be revised. For example, inadequate funding to administer the requirements of the law creates a financial hardship for our district and our residents.
FRHSD believes that addressing the following significant, constructive concerns are among those necessary to make the Act fair and effective for all children.
Note to Residents: If you would like to join us in this letter writing campaign, please review this list of concerns and write a letter to the legislators listed here. You may address any or all of the items listed, or add your own. We need the help of the community to let our legislators know that the No Child Left Behind Act, while admirable in theory, must be revised with more realistic goals.
If you have any questions regarding NCLB or the following list of concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Ilse Whisner, FRHSD public information coordinator, at 732-792-7300 ext 8542.
Thank you for your continued support of public education.
Sincerely,
Dr. James Wasser
Superintendent of Schools
LETTER WRITING POINTS:
NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND: AREAS IN NEED OF REVISION
Suggested Changes:
Issue #1: Each school receives its Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) status as a whole, as well as for each subgroup of students based on the following categories: race/ethnicity, students with disabilities, limited English proficiency, and economically disadvantaged.
According to the NJ Department of Education, a subgroup is rated only if there are at least 20 students in that category. The number 20 may be appropriate for small districts; but for schools as large as those in the FRHSD, the number 20 is simply too low.
We Propose: The State of New Jersey should follow the example of other states and increase its subgroup minimum from 20 to 50. Doing so would grant some relief to larger districts who are currently not meeting AYP because of large numbers of special education and/or limited English speaking students who are not able to perform at the same levels as the regular student population.
Issue #2: In order to achieve annual yearly progress (AYP), a school must pass all 40 indicators. By 2014, every student in the district must pass the HSPA; which is an impossible goal.
We Propose: A school should be considered as meeting proficiency if they pass 90% of the indicators.
Issue #3: There are eight sub-groups of students that sometimes overlap. That means that one student who does poorly, has the ability to affect multiple categories. (e.g.: a student can be coded as Hispanic, English Language Learner, Economically Disadvantaged, and Special Education)
We Propose: Stop counting the same students in multiple categories. Doing so gives the false perception that numerous students did poorly on the HSPA test and thereby makes it more difficult for the district to make AYP. It does not, however, offer those students multiple remedial services.
Issue #4: While most states selected a test designed to measure basic skills proficiency, New Jersey selected the HSPA, an exam designed to measure proficiency in more demanding college preparatory course work.
We Propose: NJ should use a different test to measure high school basic skills proficiency. The HSPA tests college preparatory levels of classes that are not even needed for obtaining a high school diploma in the state of New Jersey.
Issue #5: All students have to take the same test (HSPA)
We Propose: The very challenging HSPA is an inappropriate testing mechanism for students who are in need of special assistance; eg: Limited English Proficient and/or special education students. Furthermore, the state holds schools and districts accountable for special education students to pass a higher level test that is not even required for their graduation.
Issue #6: One of the NCLB indicators is the participation rate: 95% of the students in each subgroup must take the test. If the sub-group is small (ie: 45 Hispanic students), and only 2 students in the category are sick on the day of the test, the school will miss AYP.
We Propose: If a student becomes ill, it should not count against the district; particularly when measuring small subgroups. The federal Department of Education has already approved this modification and the State of New Jersey should move forward with enacting this recommendation.
Issue #7: Even though a student has three opportunities to take and pass the HSPA, only the results of the first attempt are counted toward AYP. The State Dept. of Education has approved a change to bank test results and take the highest score; however this change has not been enacted.
We Propose: Bank test results so that AYP is determined by the student’s final attempt at passing.
Issue #8: The test results of special education students who are attending out-of- district schools reflect on the home districts AYP, even though the home district is not providing the education.
We Propose: Out-of-district special education students should not be reflected on the home district’s AYP.
State & Federal Legislators
Governor Jon Corzine
State of New Jersey
PO Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625
Secretary Margaret Spellings
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Ave., SW, 7th Floor
Washington, DC 20202
Lucille Davy
Acting Commissioner
Department of Education
State of New Jersey
PO Box 500
Trenton, NJ 08625
Senator Ellen Karcher
New Jersey Senate
12th Legislative District
400 W. Main St., 3rd Floor
Freehold, NJ 07728
Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck
New Jersey State Legislature
12th Legislative District
256 Rt. 79, 1st Floor
Morganville, NJ 07751
Assemblyman Michael J. Panter
New Jersey State Legislature
12th Legislative District
167 Avenue of the Common, Suite 7
Shrewsbury, NJ 07702
Assemblyman Joseph J. Roberts Jr.
New Jersey State Legislature
5th Legislative District
Brooklawn Shopping Plaza
Route 130 & Browning Road
Brooklawn, NJ 08030
Senator Richard J. Codey
New Jersey Senate President
27th Legislative District
449 Mount Pleasant Avenue
West Orange, NJ 07052
Senator Robert W. Singer
New Jersey Senate
30th Legislative District
2110 W. County Line Rd.
Jackson, NJ 08527
Assemblyman Ronald S. Dancer
New Jersey State Legislature
30th Legislative District
2110 W. County Line Rd.
Jackson, NJ 08527
Assemblyman Joseph R. Malone
New Jersey State Legislature
30th Legislative District
311 Farnsworth Ave.
Bordentown, NJ 08505
Congressman Rush Holt
12th District – New Jersey Office
50 Washington Road
West Windsor, NJ 08550
Tuesday, 05 December 2006
Dear Parents,
In response to the 2007 reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), the FRHSD Board of Education is asking community residents to join us in a letter writing campaign addressing critical provisions of the law.
The FRHSD is committed to the primary objectives of NCLB to provide a strong academic education for all children, to promote high expectations, and to close the achievement gap. However, as with any new law, there are several practical flaws in the Act that should be revised. For example, inadequate funding to administer the requirements of the law creates a financial hardship for our district and our residents.
FRHSD believes that addressing the following significant, constructive concerns are among those necessary to make the Act fair and effective for all children.
Note to Residents: If you would like to join us in this letter writing campaign, please review this list of concerns and write a letter to the legislators listed here. You may address any or all of the items listed, or add your own. We need the help of the community to let our legislators know that the No Child Left Behind Act, while admirable in theory, must be revised with more realistic goals.
If you have any questions regarding NCLB or the following list of concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Ilse Whisner, FRHSD public information coordinator, at 732-792-7300 ext 8542.
Thank you for your continued support of public education.
Sincerely,
Dr. James Wasser
Superintendent of Schools
LETTER WRITING POINTS:
NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND: AREAS IN NEED OF REVISION
Suggested Changes:
Issue #1: Each school receives its Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) status as a whole, as well as for each subgroup of students based on the following categories: race/ethnicity, students with disabilities, limited English proficiency, and economically disadvantaged.
According to the NJ Department of Education, a subgroup is rated only if there are at least 20 students in that category. The number 20 may be appropriate for small districts; but for schools as large as those in the FRHSD, the number 20 is simply too low.
We Propose: The State of New Jersey should follow the example of other states and increase its subgroup minimum from 20 to 50. Doing so would grant some relief to larger districts who are currently not meeting AYP because of large numbers of special education and/or limited English speaking students who are not able to perform at the same levels as the regular student population.
Issue #2: In order to achieve annual yearly progress (AYP), a school must pass all 40 indicators. By 2014, every student in the district must pass the HSPA; which is an impossible goal.
We Propose: A school should be considered as meeting proficiency if they pass 90% of the indicators.
Issue #3: There are eight sub-groups of students that sometimes overlap. That means that one student who does poorly, has the ability to affect multiple categories. (e.g.: a student can be coded as Hispanic, English Language Learner, Economically Disadvantaged, and Special Education)
We Propose: Stop counting the same students in multiple categories. Doing so gives the false perception that numerous students did poorly on the HSPA test and thereby makes it more difficult for the district to make AYP. It does not, however, offer those students multiple remedial services.
Issue #4: While most states selected a test designed to measure basic skills proficiency, New Jersey selected the HSPA, an exam designed to measure proficiency in more demanding college preparatory course work.
We Propose: NJ should use a different test to measure high school basic skills proficiency. The HSPA tests college preparatory levels of classes that are not even needed for obtaining a high school diploma in the state of New Jersey.
Issue #5: All students have to take the same test (HSPA)
We Propose: The very challenging HSPA is an inappropriate testing mechanism for students who are in need of special assistance; eg: Limited English Proficient and/or special education students. Furthermore, the state holds schools and districts accountable for special education students to pass a higher level test that is not even required for their graduation.
Issue #6: One of the NCLB indicators is the participation rate: 95% of the students in each subgroup must take the test. If the sub-group is small (ie: 45 Hispanic students), and only 2 students in the category are sick on the day of the test, the school will miss AYP.
We Propose: If a student becomes ill, it should not count against the district; particularly when measuring small subgroups. The federal Department of Education has already approved this modification and the State of New Jersey should move forward with enacting this recommendation.
Issue #7: Even though a student has three opportunities to take and pass the HSPA, only the results of the first attempt are counted toward AYP. The State Dept. of Education has approved a change to bank test results and take the highest score; however this change has not been enacted.
We Propose: Bank test results so that AYP is determined by the student’s final attempt at passing.
Issue #8: The test results of special education students who are attending out-of- district schools reflect on the home districts AYP, even though the home district is not providing the education.
We Propose: Out-of-district special education students should not be reflected on the home district’s AYP.
State & Federal Legislators
Governor Jon Corzine
State of New Jersey
PO Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625
Secretary Margaret Spellings
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Ave., SW, 7th Floor
Washington, DC 20202
Lucille Davy
Acting Commissioner
Department of Education
State of New Jersey
PO Box 500
Trenton, NJ 08625
Senator Ellen Karcher
New Jersey Senate
12th Legislative District
400 W. Main St., 3rd Floor
Freehold, NJ 07728
Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck
New Jersey State Legislature
12th Legislative District
256 Rt. 79, 1st Floor
Morganville, NJ 07751
Assemblyman Michael J. Panter
New Jersey State Legislature
12th Legislative District
167 Avenue of the Common, Suite 7
Shrewsbury, NJ 07702
Assemblyman Joseph J. Roberts Jr.
New Jersey State Legislature
5th Legislative District
Brooklawn Shopping Plaza
Route 130 & Browning Road
Brooklawn, NJ 08030
Senator Richard J. Codey
New Jersey Senate President
27th Legislative District
449 Mount Pleasant Avenue
West Orange, NJ 07052
Senator Robert W. Singer
New Jersey Senate
30th Legislative District
2110 W. County Line Rd.
Jackson, NJ 08527
Assemblyman Ronald S. Dancer
New Jersey State Legislature
30th Legislative District
2110 W. County Line Rd.
Jackson, NJ 08527
Assemblyman Joseph R. Malone
New Jersey State Legislature
30th Legislative District
311 Farnsworth Ave.
Bordentown, NJ 08505
Congressman Rush Holt
12th District – New Jersey Office
50 Washington Road
West Windsor, NJ 08550