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This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by editorial page staff and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers

Thursday, September 24, 2009

APS Sets Its Target



      New goals proposed by the Albuquerque Public Schools administration and approved by the school board might not exactly track those mandated by the federal No Child Left Behind Act, but they still represent real progress and honor NCLB's intent.
       That intent — to ensure students can actually read, write, do math and have the knowledge and skills required of someone at their grade level — is inherent in the district's goal of reducing the number of students who are not proficient in math and reading by 10 percent each year through 2012. And that intent — to ensure students who are poor or disabled or of color don't fall through the cracks while their economically better off Anglo counterparts improve and/or excel — is addressed in the district's goal to reduce the achievement gap between Anglo and poor/minority students by five percent a year.
       APS superintendent Winston Brooks says he is “much more concerned about seeing a school grow (academically) than I am about hitting some arbitrary target that is established by NCLB.” Goals mean little if they are not attainable, and NCLB has some built in problems that push schools into failing categories even if they make progress. But it's important to note the “arbitrary target” in NCLB is what finally got educators off the dime when it comes to results-based education reform that targets all students.
       APS also will seek to increase its graduation rate substantially by 2012. But more impressive — and more important — are the underlying goals that will help ensure students who do graduate represent the diversity of the student body and are adequately prepared for the job market or college.
       

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