After reading today's Greenwich Time article it is apparent that the Superintendant and Principal of Hamilton Avenue School are tyring to instill a "new" fear in the parents and community. Since their health and safety reasons for not moving the students into the building until April were blown out of the water, the new tactic is pulling out the No Child Left Behind Act.
What wasn't said in the article is that there is a very definitive process for addressing schools that do not make Annual Yearly Progress.
I have included a link to the State of Connecticut's No Child Left Behind Act Accountability Workbook, Updated Version, Modified 6/23/06
http://www.csde.state.ct.us/public/cedar/nclb/faq/resources/state_accountability_workbook_september_06.pdf
On page 11 of this workbook you will find the following:
"STATE RESPONSE AND STATE ACTIVITIES FOR MEETING NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND REQUIREMENTS.
A school will be identified as
in need of improvement if it does not make AYP for twoconsecutive years in the same subject on achievement and or participation in reading or
mathematics and the additional academic indicator standard".
By the superintendant's own words in the Greenwich Time article Hamilton Avenue School was given an exemption by the State for last school year (2006-07). The school made appropriate AYP for the school year 2005-06.
Hamilton Avenue School is TWO YEARS away from being cited for failure to meet AYP with anything more severe than a demand for a plan to fix the failure.
So, what happens if Hamilton Avenue School is cited for failing to meet AYP this year? Since this is a Title I school, they will be made to come up with an improvement plan that must be accepted by the State with a clear outline of how they will bring each student's test scores up to proficient. Said improvement plan will be montored at the local and State BOE levels.
Again, please let me point out the true reason for bringing out the No Child Left Behind Act card. Using the superintendant's own words ".... and how school administrators' performances are evaluated".
This is just another attempt to defend an indefensible reason for keeping the Hamilton Avenue School children in the moldy, leaking modulars.
Since this fear has now been debunked, I eagerly await the next "fear" that is devised. Please share this email with others.
Respectfully,
Laura J. DiBella
IT LOOKS LIKE THE GREENWICH TIME DID NOT
FACT CHECK BETTY STERNBERG'S STATEMENTS
THIS WOULD NOT BE THE FIRST TIME THAT STERNBERG LIED
TO THE PARENTS AND SINGLE FAMILY HOMEOWNERS OF GREENWICH
ALL TOO OFTEN FAILED SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS
MISLEAD THE PRESS IN AN EFFORT TO
DIVIDE AND ISOLATE PARENTS
TRYING TO PROTECT THEIR SMALL CHILDREN
ASK YOURSELF, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE SCHOOL OFFICIALS LIED TO THE SINGLE FAMILY HOMEOWNERS IN THE LAST YEAR ALONE?
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