The need for a yardstick

The need for a yardstick

Marietta Times: Among major complaints about the federal rules, in effect for about a decade, was that — according to many educators — too much emphasis was placed on the results of standardized tests. That may be true, though it is clear some yardstick needs to be devised to ensure schools are performing adequately.

No child Left Behind was a dismal failure in its signature goal of ensuring all children, not just the bright ones from good socio-economic backgrounds, learn. It appears Ohio’s replacement plan retains that emphasis, as it should.

One of the state’s proposals is to require that schools reduce the achievement gaps among various classes of students, including those of different socio-economic and racial backgrounds.

Clearly, that must be part of the state plan. The gigantic achievement gap separating some groups of students is intolerable.

For example, African-American students score very low on many standardized tests, compared to their white peers.

Again, NCLB was an expensive, aggravating flop. That does not mean the law’s goal was not a worthwhile one, however. To the contrary, Ohio’s state school improvement plan needs to have the same focus — with better, more realistic strategies for implementation.