Schools aren’t only ones that make inadequate yearly progress

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We sympathize with local school districts that are having trouble meeting their “adequate yearly progress” goals because academic standards are getting tougher each year.

Rock Falls High School hasn’t made its AYP goals for No Child Left Behind for 3 years. Right behind are Sterling and Dixon high schools, who have missed the mark for 2 years.

Citizens should not be too hard on their schools. Educators are earnestly trying to come up with new methods for reaching and teaching students. Many schools have adopted Response to Intervention programs. RTI is designed make earlier identifications of students who are having trouble, so that more effort can be made to reach them and teach them. That ought to give students, and their schools, a better chance to make their “adequate yearly progress” goals.

In fact, we’d like to see other people in government do goal setting and then have their results checked publicly each year, just like it’s done with schools.

For instance, are state politicians making “adequate yearly progress” in solving Illinois’ budget woes?

Are the same leaders making “adequate yearly progress” on cleaning up Illinois’ culture of corruption?

Is “adequate yearly progress” being made on improving the offensive and unfair way that Illinois draws its legislative and congressional maps at redistricting time?

Are counties making “adequate yearly progress” on solving their escalating financial problems?

Are local cities and towns making “adequate yearly progress” in fighting crime, attracting jobs, and repaving bumpy streets?

We could go on and on. The point is that public schools are convenient whipping boys for society’s ills, while others in power are reluctant to hold themselves accountable to tough standards akin to those imposed on education.

We note a positive sign in the community of Oregon. Residents have been asked to attend a meeting Saturday morning on the theme “The Next Step Forward.” Local folks will be asked to offer input on what some community improvement goals should be.

Once various plans and projects are agreed to, Oregon residents can keep an eye on those goals to see whether “adequate yearly progress” is made toward achieving them. Residents, of course, have the option of pitching in to help meet the goals, thus enabling the community to become a better place.

Yes, schools have room for improvement, but so does everybody else. Schools shouldn’t be the only ones taking the rap for not making “adequate yearly progress.”

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