Stricter ratings faced
Alternative schools may get sanctioned
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Tougher state rules could subject more public schools in the East Baton Parish School System to state takeovers, education officials said.
“I am concerned,” said Lizabeth Frischhertz, chief officer for accountability, assessment and evaluation for the EBR school district.
The worry stems from a new policy adopted with little fanfare earlier this year by the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
The 11-member panel sets policies for about 650,000 public school students statewide.
The change is aimed at alternative schools, which house students with discipline or other problems.
There are seven such schools in the East Baton Rouge Parish school district.
Up to four could eventually be subject to state takeovers, Frischhertz said. She did not identify them and said her views are based on preliminary data.
Under the old rules, test scores for those students could be returned to neighborhood schools that the students would otherwise attend.
Those test results were then figured in with those of students who attend the school in coming up with an overall score reviewed by state educators.
Under a new state policy approved in March, test results will generally remain at alternative schools, which will be given school performance scores like others statewide.
Those that fail to meet minimum state standards face a wide range of sanctions, including state takeovers if they fail to improve.
The state has taken over 12 rank-and-file public schools in East Baton Rouge Parish in the past two years because they repeatedly failed to meet state academic standards.
Educators contend that, once alternative schools are routinely assigned school performance scores, most will face problems meeting state standards.
“I would assume they would have trouble making the minimum,” said Stephanie Desselle, senior vice president of the Council for A Better Louisiana, a nonprofit group that lobbies on governmental issues.
Desselle is also a member of the School and District Accountability Commission, an influential panel that advises the state school board.
The accountability panel, with the backing of Desselle, recommended the new policy for alternative schools earlier this year.
Backers said the change is needed because it is unfair to send test results for students to schools they never attend.
Those who favor returning test scores of students who attend alternative schools to their neighborhood schools contend it is unreasonable to think that alternative schools can achieve test and other results required by the state.
School performance scores are based on LEAP, which fourth- and eighth-graders have to pass for promotion, and iLEAP, which students in grades three, five, six, seven and nine take.
LEAP stands for Louisiana Educational Assessment Program.
Dropout and attendance rates are also factored in.
Alternative schools in the East Baton Rouge Parish school district are Arlington Preparatory Academy, EBR Acceleration Academy, Mohican Education Center, Northdale Academy, Pre-GED Options, Staring Educational Center and Valley Park Alternative Center.
The new policy applies to schools with 40 students or more.
State Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek has said 108 alternative schools statewide, including the seven in East Baton Rouge Parish, returned test scores to neighborhood schools students would otherwise attend.
State officials plan to announce on Aug. 3 public schools statewide that face state sanctions.
School districts have to score at least 60 to avoid sanctions. The state average in 2008 was 87.2.
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