Fewer schools in Iowa are meeting the ever-increasing standards of the federal No Child Left Behind law.
The 2013 State Report Card shows roughly 12% of school districts and around 47% of school buildings are in need of assistance.
School districts or buildings designated to be in need of assistance did not meet proficiency goals in math and/or reading or had low graduation rates for two consecutive years.
Both figures are up significantly compared to the 2011-2012 school year.
Iowa Department of Education Director Brad Buck says No Child Left Behind does not measure the quality of the education provided in his state.
"This misguided law does not recognize that students come to us with different starting points," says Buck. "It does not recognize the strides that schools make with students. No Child Left Behind unfairly targets those schools that serve more disadvantaged students and labels them as failures."
Schools in need of assistance face a loss of federal funding or significant changes to curriculum or administration.
Buck expects more districts and buildings to appear on next year’s list.
He says the proficiency goal will jump from 94% to 100%, so avoiding the list means every single student must meet reading and math standards.
Lee & Des Moines Counties
School Districts in Need of Assistance
Burlington - Math // Reading
Keokuk - Reading
School Districts in Need of Assistance - Watch List
Fort Madison - Math // Reading
Keokuk - Math
School Buildings in Need of Assistance
Aldo Leopold (Burlington) MS - Math // Reading
Burlington Alternative HS - Math // Reading
Burlington HS - Math // Reading
Edward Stone (Burlington) MS - Math // Reading
Danville Elementary - Reading
Danville MS/HS - Reading
Fort Madison HS - Reading
Fort Madison MS - Math // Reading
Richardson (Fort Madison) Elementary - Math // Reading
Keokuk HS - Math // Reading
Keokuk MS - Math // Reading
Mediapolis MS - Reading
West Burlington JH - Math // Reading
School Buildings in Need of Assistance - Watch List
Blackhawk (Burlington) Elementary - Math // Reading
Corse (Burlington) Elementary - Math // Reading
Grimes (Burlington) Elementary - Math // Reading
Central Lee Elementary - Math // Reading
Central Lee MS - Reading
Fort Madison Alternative HS - Math // Reading
Fort Madison HS - Math
Mediapolis Elementary - Reading
School Buildings in Delay (Removal after 2nd Positive AYP)
North Hill (Burlington) Elementary - Reading
Sunny Side (Burlington) Elementary - Math // Reading
Danville Elementary - Math
West Burlington Elementary - Reading
