District Administration - July 2007 - (Page 22)

SUPERERINTENDENT PASCAL D. FORGIONE JR. AdministratorProﬁle Talking Details on NCLB By Angela Pascopella HEN PASCAL D. FOR gione Jr., the Austin (Texas) Independent School District superintendent of schools, discusses the federal No Child Left Behind law, he has a lot to say. Many school administrators, including Forgione, agree the law, which is currently under review by Congress for reauthorization, has good intentions but that federal mandates that are not funded and with a one-size-ﬁts-all package do not work in American schools. Not all students learn the same way or at the same rate. Over this past school year, the Austin district, which has an operating budget of about $700 million, spent approximately $1,600 per student on NCLB mandates alone, in addition to its per student expediture rate of $8,500. Since July 2002, the district has spent about $9.8 million on NCLB mandates. Still, nine schools are in the Needs Improvement category. Forgione, a member of District Administration’s Advisory Board, says one advantage of NCLB is its focus on two frequently overlooked student groups—English Language Learners (ELLs) and special education. “We have been working diligently to ensure that all our students [including ELLs and special education] receive rigorous instruction,” he says. Another advantage is NCLB’s focus on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which has provided valuable information about how all groups of students are doing compared to others in the country, he says. But Forgione believes the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. Some disadvantages are that schools are placed on a Needs Improvement list if only one group 22 July 2007 W of students—for example, ELLs—perform poorly in reading; school choice is oﬀered before Supplemental Educational Services; and the same passing rates and timeline are required for ELLs and special ed students as other students. NCLB also requires that schools in need of improvement set aside 10 percent of their local Title I funds for professional development. “This creates no ﬂexibility in budgeting” because the funds might be better spent in classroom materials or resources, he says. “Campuses should have the ﬂexibility to budget based on identiﬁed needs.” Special Education and English Learner Students In Texas, about 12 percent of students are in special education, Forgione says. In Austin, 5 to 6 percent of students have “signiﬁcant cognitive disabilities,” thus receiving instruction and assessments that are oﬀ grade level. NCLB’s 3 percent cap of students assessed oﬀ grade level is Austin’s greatest concern. “This has major implications regarding our special education and ELLs,” he says. “It may or may not be reasonable to assume that only 1 percent of students nationwide are so severely cognitively disabled as to be tested oﬀ grade level and/ or to be held to a diﬀerent performance standard than their peers without disabilities. Also, it may or may not be reasonable to assume that only 2 percent of special education students have disabilities which preclude them from achieving grade-level proﬁciency or that they may not be likely to achieve grade-level proﬁciency within the school year covered by the Individual Education Program.” Forgione says that more than 3 percent of students with disabilities require oﬀgrade-level assessments, despite the high quality instruction they receive. Committees comprised of educators and parents make individualized program and assessment decisions for each of the students. “Forcing these student-centered committees to make decisions based on AYP consequences, rather than on student needs, is neither in the best interests of children nor in keeping with IDEA [Individuals District Administration Pascal D. Forgione Jr. Superintendent, Austin (Texas) Independent School District Age: 62 Salary: $265,905 Tenure: Since August 1999 Students: 82,063 Graduation Rate: 81 percent (according to 2005-2006 ﬁgures) Faculty/Staff: 11,369 Schools: 112

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - July 2007

Contents
Editor’s Letter
Letters
News Update
Facilities/Construction Update
Curriculum Update
Inside the Law
Administrator Profile
District Profile
Cover Story: Rethinking School Bus Safety
Broadening Collective Bargaining
Searching for Subs
Jersey City’s Broad Appeal
Improving Nutrition in Schools
New Products
Computer Literature
How Well Does This Web Site Work?
Research Corner
Problem Solution
Online Edge
Speaking Out
Supervisor’s Opinion
Calendar of Events
Understanding the Times

District Administration - July 2007