By Associated Press
Belleville, IL – ILLINOIS IS ONE OF SIX STATES THAT WILL PARTICIPATE IN A NEW NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND PILOT PROGRAM.
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SPOKESWOMAN ANDREA PRESTON SAYS THE DIFFERENTIATED ACCOUNTABILITY PROGRAM WILL GIVE SCHOOLS FLEXIBILITY IN MEETING FEDERAL GUIDELINES, WHICH ARE OFTEN CRITICIZED AS TOO RIGID.
THE PROGRAM ALLOWS STATES TO SEPARATE UNDERPERFORMING SCHOOLS INTO CATEGORIES.
``COMPREHENSIVE'' SCHOOLS UNIFORMLY UNDERPERFORM WHILE IN ``FOCUSED'' SCHOOLS, SELECT GROUPS OR PROGRAMS NEED IMPROVEMENT.
ST. CLAIR COUNTY REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENT BRAD HARRIMAN SAYS SCHOOLS CAN TRACK PROGRESS MORE ACCURATELY THIS WAY.
THE PROGRAM ALSO GIVES FAILING SCHOOLS AN EXTRA YEAR TO MAKE CHANGES BEFORE STATES TAKE SEVERE ACTIONS SUCH AS REPLACING STAFF.
