New standard for educational accountability would measure progress

Schools would be assessed on student progress rather than solely on universal benchmarks under a bill advanced from general file March 13. LB870, introduced by York Sen. Greg Adams, would broaden the criteria used to assess a school’s effectiveness. Adams said the proposed changes would provide a more accurate picture of how a school is performing.
Schools currently are held accountable for students’ results on content area assessments. LB870 would add additional measures, including student growth and improvement and graduation rates. Schools would be required to annually report the data.
Educational accountability mandated under the federal No Child Left Behind legislation is a reality that must be dealt with, Adams said.
“We may not like the method [proposed by No Child Left Behind], but there has to be accountability,” Adams said. “We can sit back and complain or we can take steps to make the Nebraska system better.”
An Education Committee amendment, adopted 38-0, incorporated provisions of several bills heard by the committee. The amendment would:
• add language that would make data collected by the statewide accountability system available to all citizens;
• require that all probationary teachers — regardless of school classification — be evaluated once per semester; and
• provide stronger authorization to the state Department of Education to create and support career academies.
Omaha Sen. Brad Ashford spoke in support of the amendment, saying the creation of career academies will benefit students who may not follow a traditional educational pathway. The provisions originated from LB1144, a bill he introduced.
“I’m thoroughly convinced that if we can move forward with career academies, we’ll increase the confidence of kids that feel the system has given up on them,” Ashford said.
Senators advanced the bill to select file on a 36-0 vote.