Holden calls for focus on substandard schools

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Deficient public school districts that fail to take steps to improve would lose their state funding under an education reform proposal announced Tuesday by Gov. Bob Holden.

Districts not fully accredited by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education would face tougher state regulation under the plan, which Holden said will be the cornerstone of his 2002 legislative agenda. Problem schools in districts that as a whole win accreditation would also face stricter scrutiny.

During a news conference at a Jefferson City middle school, Holden said the state wouldn't interfere with local decision-making but would hold educators responsible for fixing problems.

"In plain speak, teachers and administrators will be expected to outline each school's problems and propose solutions," Holden said. "And they'll be held accountable. This is not one-size-fits-all problem-solving."

Though it would target underperforming schools, Holden discussed his proposal on Tuesday at schools around the state recognized for academic achievement. Holden said he chose such schools to give them their due credit.

In Jackson today

Holden will tout the plan again at 2 p.m. today at Jackson, Mo., High School.

The governor said his initiative wouldn't cost the state additional money.

While requiring students who score poorly on Missouri Assessment Program to retake the standardized test until they show improvement, Holden's plan would also raise subject-matter proficiency standards for teachers and administrators.

"This is an unprecedented approach, but it is one that I believe can catapult our schools ahead of other states in the quality of learning that is taking place in our classrooms," Holden said.

Districts that don't receive full state accreditation would be labeled "priority districts" and required to take certain actions. Those could include reducing class size, instituting full-day kindergartens and preschools, hiring teacher specialists in problem curriculum areas and providing more instruction time for low-performing students through after-school tutoring and summer school.

Struggling districts would have to submit improvement plans to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education each year. After receiving feedback from the department, a district would have 30 days to make changes and institute its plan.

Penalties proposed

"To put teeth behind these deadlines, any school district that misses a deadline will have its state foundation formula money withheld until the requirement is met," Holden said.

The foundation formula determines how state education money is allocated to school districts.

Thirty-six districts would today qualify as priority districts, Holden said. That list includes the Caruthersville, Mo., and Meadows Heights, Mo., school districts.

Though Caruthersville has been only provisionally accredited for five years, superintendent Olin Parks said in an interview that the district recently met all 13 state standards on its most recent performance review and expects to receive full accreditation in March.

Parks said Caruthersville instituted many of the steps Holden's proposal would require of struggling districts. Parks said the governor's plan sounds like a step in the right direction.

"Caruthersville has taken care of business," Parks said. "But I think the state needs to focus on our kids' educational needs for the next century."

Meadow Heights superintendent Duane Schindler was out of the office Tuesday and couldn't be reached for comment.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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