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By Amy Sherrill English language learners in the Fort Smith School District who took state Benchmark exams this spring did not score as low as district officials feared, the Fort Smith superintendent said Monday. Fort Smith Public Schools Superintendent Benny Gooden told school board members Monday night that the district did see a drop in scores among its English language learners, but not much as they expected after the state required the students to take a test written solely in English. In previous years, students who had been in the country a year or less were allowed to take an alternate form of the Benchmark exam. However, the U.S. Department of Education informed the state last year that its alternate test was not adequate. The state Department of Education could not come up with another alternate approved by the U.S. Department of Education in time for this spring’s Benchmark exams. “We are pleased that the decline we had anticipated as a result of youngsters who don’t read English taking a test only in English with no modifications did not have a large and detrimental effect as we thought it would,” Gooden said. “Obviously, we saw some drops among our English language learner groups, but overall it appears that we offset that with gains in other areas. That’s small comfort. Those subgroups are certainly not going to be proficient, but we all knew that.” Gooden said board members would receive a more detailed analysis of Benchmark scores in the future as they become available. In a related matter, Gooden lauded U.S. Rep. John Boozman, R-Rogers, for introducing two pieces of legislation last week dealing with efforts to make the No Child Left Behind Act better. Both pieces of legislation focus on changes to NCLBs assessment programs for children with disabilities and English language learners, Gooden said. “I think Congressman Boozman certainly deserves credit for listening to us,” Gooden said. House of Representatives Bill 3075 would allow states to classify students with limited English proficiency for up to three years, and giving states the power to create alternative testing methods for those students, according to Boozman’s Web site. The second bill, H.R. 3076 wound provide states with the power to adopt alternate and modified standards for students with disabilities, consistent with their individualized education programs, the Web site states. “Congressman Boozman is apparently distancing himself by taking a contrary direction from the administration (U.S. Department of Education),” Gooden said. “(He) has joined a growing group of members of Congress who are saying, ‘Wait a minute, we need to back up and take a look at this.’” Board member Jeannie Cole asked whether a resolution passed by the school board earlier this year that asked for changes to be made had impact with Boozman. Gooden said the resolution probably helped along with teacher and administrator input during a session Boozman held for Fort Smith school employees to air grievances regarding NCLB. “Of course, that’s not all the changes that need to be made but it’s a good start,” Gooden said. In other business, the school board voted 6-0 to purchase three lots, including two residences at 404 N. 40th St., and 408 N. 40th St. for a total of $156,450. The lots are west of Albert Pike Elementary School. Board member Yvonne Keaton-Martin was not at the meeting. The school district is engaged in planning and design for an addition at Albert Pike Elementary, 4111 Park Ave., which was built in 1948. Construction could begin in late fall and would take at least a year. Estimated cost for the project would be at least $2 million to $3 million, Gooden said. |
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