Front Page  education

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

New schools chief sets goal of 9% boost in proficiency

By Andrea Schoellkopf
Journal Staff Writer
          Albuquerque Public Schools plans to increase student proficiency by 9 percent over the next three years, under new goals approved by the school board.
        Some of the goals announced by Superintendent Winston Brooks last week have already been done, such as the return to a centralized administration.
        The goals were based on comments given in community forums when the board was conducting its superintendent search last year. Brooks also met individually with board members and during a retreat last month before coming up with the goals.
        He said he plans to detail in late September how the district will improve proficiency, and each individual school will have its own plan. He said he also will address the achievement gap involving high-poverty students and will improve dropout, truancy and test participation rates.
        Other goals are: changing public perception of APS, effective board training, improved communication, a review of plans to upgrade and maintain buildings, a review of the district's financial status that will include quarterly reports; and a review of the district and school crisis plans.
        "This is a long time coming," said board member Marty Esquivel, who added that the goals are measurable so the board will be able to evaluate progress.