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By Jason Witz Neil Armstrong Elementary Principal Kathy Rooker stood before members of Congress Monday and explained how No Child Left Behind has failed. It was a small role compared to the volume of lobbyists and special-interest groups that spoke, but Rooker believes she put a face on what the law does at the school level. Rooker and School Board Chairwoman Andrea Messina spoke about the flaws of the current system during a congressional hearing in Washington, D.C. Messina, who was speaking as a member of the No Child Left Behind Commission, focused on recommendations which included strengthening accountability and access to student options. "My biggest point was it needs repair," Messina said. Rooker told members of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor that the accountability standards wrongly punish schools that show improvement. She was invited to the hearing following a recent discussion with state and federal leaders at Neil Armstrong Elementary. "They were very receptive," Rooker said. "They realize things need to be different with No Child Left Behind." The testimony comes several weeks after the district hosted a meeting with other school administrators about No Child Left Behind. U.S. Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-Fla., and U.S. Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., discussed reauthorization of the bill last month with eight school districts. The event was hosted at Neil Armstrong Elementary. The No Child Left Behind Act was signed into law in 2002 to improve academic performance of schools by increasing accountability standards of states and districts. The program measures student progress annually for math and reading in grades 3-8, and at least once in high school. However, critics say it penalizes schools with higher percentages of students receiving free or reduced lunches, Neil Armstrong didn't make Adequate Yearly Progress last year, despite substantial increases in its Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test scores and an A grade from the state. Overall, the school had 87 percent of its students meet or exceed state standards in math — an increase of 25 percent from 2005-06. Students made similar gains in reading, with 82 percent proficient. But those gains didn't keep the school from federal penalties this year. Rooker said the hearing was beneficial, and Congress took her points seriously. "It's nice to know our voice could be heard," she said. "I was really humbled and honored to represent our district." |
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