WASHINGTON D.C. -
The controversial No Child Left Behind act no longer applies to Indiana schools.
President Barack Obama exempted the Hoosier state and nine others from a federal mandate aimed at improving public schools . A new state "A through F" grading system will replace the federal report cards.
The law requires all students to be proficient in reading and math by 2014. Obama's action strips away that requirement in exchange for a viable substitute plan.
Parents, teachers and communities should expect clearer and more accurate assessments of their public schools.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Tony Bennett joined Eyewitness News at Noon to discuss the development Thursday.
"Is it better? Is is fairer? Is it a more comprehensive view? Without question," he said.
Instead of being assessed by different federal and Indiana standards, beginning this year, schools will be graded on a single A-F report card.
"After yesterday's state board decision to rework the measurements by which we assign schools A, B, C, D, F, this announcement really fits right into that," Bennett said.
The federal system looked at schools, attendance and ISTEP scores. It divided students into 30 different groups. If just one group failed to show adequate yearly progress, the whole school failed.
"It really allows us to do two things for taxpayers, for parents, for teachers, for principals," said Bennett. "This takes the decade-old process of having two announcements - one, our Public Law 221 determination for schools, and two, our No Child Left Behind determination for schools - we always referred to it as the AYP announcement - it allows us to combine those into one. One simple-to-understand letter grade using performance of a school, growth of its students and other measurements at the high school that we've never been allowed to use."
New state assessments also consider factors such as student improvement, the gap separating the highest and lowest achieving students, enrollment in career or college prep classes and graduation rates. Although it all sounds good, the superintendent of Lawrence Township schools admitted, "For me, the jury is still out."
Dr. Concetta Raimondi and other education leaders say their skepticism is justified.
"How can two of our schools right now be C's under the old model and under the new model, one is going to be an A, and the other an F?" she said.
Supporters insist all students, including those who struggle as well as those who excel, stand to gain the most. The new assessments are intended to help schools identify shortcomings and concentrate on programs that work.
"When you stare focusing your efforts on the big bets in education, students do nothing but benefit," said Bennett.
The new grading system is already underway. The new school report cards are expected to be published online in August.
"This does not strip away the belief that Indiana holds schools very highly accountable. As a matter of fact, this increases the accountability for schools and we think it is a real measure that holds schools accountable and provides parents and community members with a clear pictures of how schools perform," said Bennett.
Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Tennessee are the other states that received waivers. A White House official says the only state that applied for but was denied the flexibility is New Mexico, which is working to get approval.
