On Jan. 8 2002, President George W. Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act into law. It mandated that there must be annual testing, adequate and increasing academic progress each school year, annual report cards, and better teacher qualifications.
The No Child Left Behind Act, while well intentioned, was also flawed. The NCLBA calls for all students to be “proficient” by the school year of 2013-14. If a school fails to meet the target requirements for the state two years in a row the state will provide technical assistance for it, offer the students the opportunity to go to other schools, and cut federal funding.
However, there was an option for states to file to request a waver in exchange of an alternative plan of action that includes rigorous state-developed plans to improve outcomes, close achievement gaps, increase equity, and improve the quality of instruction. The plan for Missouri that was signed and implemented was known as the MSIP-5 which is based on several factors rather than just noting Academic Progress based on federally assigned standardized test scores.
The MSIP-5 performance standards and indicators includes academic achievement, subgroup achievement (meaning minorities, those with mental handicaps, non native English speakers, etc.), College and career readiness, attendance rates, and graduation rates.
“It’s stressful because we are no longer strictly under the criteria of the No Child Left Behind Act, we have a new system of criteria that we have to follow’” says Rob Lundien.
The district is essentially going to be graded on a federal level based on a point scale based on achievement in key areas with certain weight to each category. It encompasses many factors, such as scores on the AP and IB exams, grades received in key classes such as early college or dual credit classes, ACT and SAT scores, and the compass test. It also includes statistics such as number of graduates that attend post-secondary education or training, graduates who join the military, and graduates without recognized placement.
“We are all in this together, the core teachers, the administrators, and the students,” said Lundien.
Although the No Child Left Behind Act is no longer a burden for Missouri next year, the state now has new rigorous requirements and focuses for the following years under the MSIP-5 which although more flexible, makes it no less challenging to strive for.
