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State wants improvement at M.C. Smith
By Andrew Amelinckx
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers
Old problems seem to remain in a recently-reshuffled Hudson City School District as the new M.C. Smith Intermediate School gets designated by the state as a “School in Corrective Action Year One” under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
The controversial NCLB law was enacted in 2002 and aimed to improve the performance of public schools by increasing the standards of accountability for states, school districts, and schools.
Greenport Elementary, now closed, was considered to be a school in need of improvement (year two) by the State Education Department, because students with disabilities failed to make annual yearly progress in elementary-middle level English language arts according to a state report.
Title I schools that fail to show adequate yearly progress for two years in a row in the same subject and grade are considered in need of improvement. Adequate yearly progress is the minimum level of performance school districts and schools must achieve every year to meet this goal.
With the shuttering of Greenport Elementary that school’s standing has transferred over to the new school, which houses third through sixth grades.
“The state made the decision,” said District Superintendent Jack Howe. “We weren’t sure whether it was going to happen or not.”
He said the SED took the summer to make the decision.
Numerous calls made by the Register-Star to the SED were not returned and an e-mail has gone unanswered.
Under NCLB the district has some choices in the remediation of the problem, including replacing staff; introducing a new curriculum; and bringing in an outside advisor, among others.
“The good news is that with this designation there are funds for improving the trouble areas,” said Howe.
The district has decided to bring an outside agency in to conduct an external audit.
“This is the first time ever (the SED) will be providing funding for an external audit,” said Maria Suttmeier, the district’s Assistant Superintendent in charge of curriculum.
Up to $100,000 through the state could be awarded to pay for the audit, she said. And any funds left from the audit process can be used to implement its findings.
Suttmeier said they were also working on a comprehensive education plan.
If this new plan doesn’t work, the next step is restructuring, which can include turning the operation of the school over to the state.
***
To reach reporter Andrew Amelinckx call 518-828-1616, ext. 2267 or e-mail aamelinckx@registerstar.com
The controversial NCLB law was enacted in 2002 and aimed to improve the performance of public schools by increasing the standards of accountability for states, school districts, and schools.
Greenport Elementary, now closed, was considered to be a school in need of improvement (year two) by the State Education Department, because students with disabilities failed to make annual yearly progress in elementary-middle level English language arts according to a state report.
Title I schools that fail to show adequate yearly progress for two years in a row in the same subject and grade are considered in need of improvement. Adequate yearly progress is the minimum level of performance school districts and schools must achieve every year to meet this goal.
With the shuttering of Greenport Elementary that school’s standing has transferred over to the new school, which houses third through sixth grades.
“The state made the decision,” said District Superintendent Jack Howe. “We weren’t sure whether it was going to happen or not.”
He said the SED took the summer to make the decision.
Numerous calls made by the Register-Star to the SED were not returned and an e-mail has gone unanswered.
Under NCLB the district has some choices in the remediation of the problem, including replacing staff; introducing a new curriculum; and bringing in an outside advisor, among others.
“The good news is that with this designation there are funds for improving the trouble areas,” said Howe.
The district has decided to bring an outside agency in to conduct an external audit.
“This is the first time ever (the SED) will be providing funding for an external audit,” said Maria Suttmeier, the district’s Assistant Superintendent in charge of curriculum.
Up to $100,000 through the state could be awarded to pay for the audit, she said. And any funds left from the audit process can be used to implement its findings.
Suttmeier said they were also working on a comprehensive education plan.
If this new plan doesn’t work, the next step is restructuring, which can include turning the operation of the school over to the state.
***
To reach reporter Andrew Amelinckx call 518-828-1616, ext. 2267 or e-mail aamelinckx@registerstar.com
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