Human Services News

From Education Newsfeed:

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings today announced a new pilot program under No Child Left Behind aimed at helping states differentiate between underperforming schools in need of dramatic interventions and those that are closer to meeting the goals of No Child Left Behind.

She was joined by Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, U.S. Senator Norm Coleman and Gene Wilhoit, executive director, Council of Chief State School Officers.

You and Minnesota Education Commissioner Alice Seagren deserve a lot of credit for holding schools accountable for every student's achievement.

You're also leaders in preparing your students well in math and science.

I would like to thank Senator Norm Coleman, Gene Wilhoit of the Council of Chief State School Officers, South Dakota Education Secretary Rick Melmer and the educators, policymakers and superintendents who have joined us today.

Sometimes, using data to measure progress and diagnose problems is challenging.

Upon taking office, I immediately pledged to address three issues that educators were raising: measuring individual student growth over time, improving assessment and instruction for students with limited English skills and addressing the needs of special education students.

I'm confident that this process will help educators nationwide learn more about helping these children acquire grade-level knowledge, as we know they can.

They must publish timely, transparent information about educational progress and challenges, as well as options for parents.

And they must commit to building their capacity for reform, and focusing their most significant actions around their lowest-performing schools, such as the so-called "dropout factories" that produce up to half of high school dropouts.

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