COLUMBUS — The Columbus Municipal School District has faced its share of challenges this year, from searching for a superintendent to wrangling a budget that left even accountants befuddled.
Monday night, board members learned of a new problem: The district is at risk of losing its accreditation for failing to administer state subject area tests to special education students at Columbus High School.
According to a Nov. 8 letter from State Superintendent Tom Burnham, only 26 percent of the high school’s special education students were tested, despite warnings to district officials “verbally on multiple occasions.”
Since the 2001 enactment of the No Child Left Behind Act, federal law has mandated 95-percent student participation in state standardized tests. Students with disabilities are not exempt from the program.
New requirements
Anthony Brown said it was never a state requirement, so some special education students were never assessed. Brown is assistant superintendent of federal and special programs for the district. However, the Mississippi Department of Education could face federal sanctions for the district’s noncompliance, resulting in the state department’s crackdown.
The district is taking corrective action to make sure all students take subject area tests in English II, biology and Algebra I from now on, Brown assured board members.
If the district fails to correct the issue, it will be placed on “advised status” by the state’s Commission on School Accreditation for 2012-2013. Further, it could be placed on probation the following year and have its accreditation withdrawn if it does not meet standards.
Based upon state accountability rankings released in September, the district remains on academic watch for the second year in a row after failing to meet academic growth standards. On an individual level, six of the district’s seven schools were also listed on academic watch for unmet growth standards. Sale Elementary School was the only district school to meet its growth standards and be ranked as high performing.
Title I
Brown said the district will apply for federal Title I funds for Columbus middle and high schools. The state is encouraging participation in the federal appropriations program at all schools in which at least 75 percent of students receive free or reduced-fee lunch.
The problem, Brown said, is that becoming a Title 1 school could result in the elimination of nine positions at the high school and three at the middle school if federal funds are not available to pay the salaries because the district will no longer be allowed to pay them from maintenance funds.
In response to board member Tommy Prude’s query as to which is more reliable, federal or state funding, Brown said, federal funding was more reliable but now districts are being told not to expect funding increases and to prepare for possible decreases.
Other business
n The board tabled the dropout prevention program. It will attempt to reclaim dropouts through a broad-reaching marketing and recruitment campaign touting the availability and advantages of “e-centers.”
n The board also approved the design and purchase of three for sale signs for Lee Middle School. The 14.4-acre property is at the intersection of Military Road and 18th Avenue North. The school was built in 1953, graduating its last high school class in 1993 before being converted into a middle school. The building, along with Hunt Intermediate School, was vacated in January following the opening of Columbus Middle School.
Carmen K. Sisson is the former news editor at The Dispatch.
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