The head of the Iowa Department of Education was quick to point out what he thought of the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law during a conference call Thursday morning on the state's annual report card. Director Ryan Wise said, plain and simple, the law is flawed.
"NCLB holds schools to unrealistic requirements and punishes dedicated educators when their schools fall short," Wise said.
No Child Left Behind became law in 2001, creating a set of benchmarks for public schools to follow in the hope that all students would be proficient in math and reading.
Wise said this is the second year in which a school is deemed to be in compliance with the law if 100% of students are considered proficient. That includes schools that are large enough to have sub-groups of students based on race, socio-economic status, and disability.
Wise said the 100% requirement is the reason why roughly 2/3 of Iowa's schools and 15% of districts across the state are not in compliance.
"A majority of our schools are not failing," Wise stressed. "As an education system, we are focused on the right work and are collaborating in unprecedented ways."
Iowa does not have a waiver to exempt it from aspects of NCLB. Wise said until the federal government changes the law, more and more schools in Iowa will be considered "in need of assistance."
"We believe students will be best served by a re-authorized law that sets clear federal parameters," Wise said. "While allowing states flexibility to meet educational goals in a way that makes sense for them.”
Wise believes that will make it easier to address the state's deficiencies, such as much lower reading and math skills for minority students.
The report card can be viewed in its entirety here.
Below are how schools in Lee, Van Buren, and Des Moines Counties fared in the 2014/2015 school year. This does not take into account how many years in a row the buildings have met or not met proficiency standards, just how they fared this past year.
Schools Meeting Proficiency Standards (2014/2015)
Math
- Corse Elem. (Burlington)
- Central Lee MS
- Danville Elem.
- Lincoln Elem. (Fort Madison)
- Richardson Elem. (Fort Madison)
- Keokuk MS
- Mediapolis Elem.
Reading
- Central Lee HS
- Central Lee MS
- Danville Elem.
- Lincoln Elem. (Fort Madison)
- Richardson Elem. (Fort Madison)
- Harmony Jr./Sr. High
- Mediapolis HS
- West Burlington Jr. High
Schools Not Meeting Proficiency Standards (2014/2015)
Math
- Aldo Leopold MS (Burlington)
- Blackhawk Elem. (Burlington)
- Burlington Alternative
- Burlington HS
- Edward Stone MS (Burlington)
- Grimes Elem. (Burlington)
- North Hill Elem. (Burlington)
- Sunnyside Elem. (Burlington)
- Central Lee Elem.
- Central Lee HS
- Danville Jr./Sr. High
- Fort Madison HS
- Fort Madison MS
- Harmony Elem.
- Harmony Jr./Sr. High
- George Washington Elem. (Keokuk)
- Hawthorne Elem. (Keokuk)
- Keokuk HS
- Mediapolis HS
- Mediapolis MS
- Van Buren Elem.
- Van Buren HS
- West Burlington Elem.
- West Burlington HS
- West Burlington Jr. High
Reading
- Aldo Leopold MS (Burlington)
- Blackhawk Elem. (Burlington)
- Burlington Alternative
- Burlington HS
- Corse Elem. (Burlington)
- Edward Stone MS (Burlington)
- Grimes Elem. (Burlington)
- North Hill Elem. (Burlington)
- Sunnyside Elem. (Burlington)
- Central Lee Elem.
- Danville Jr./Sr. High
- Fort Madison HS
- Fort Madison MS
- Harmony Elem.
- George Washington Elem. (Keokuk)
- Hawthorne Elem. (Keokuk)
- Keokuk HS
- Mediapolis Elem.
- Mediapolis MS
- Van Buren Elem.
- Van Buren HS
- West Burlington Elem.
- West Burlington HS
