State of Alaska Sets New Education Standards

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By Reba Lean - Fairbanks Daily News-Miner / rlean@newsminer.com

Story Created: Jun 18, 2012 at 10:17 AM AKDT

Story Updated: Jun 18, 2012 at 10:18 AM AKDT

FAIRBANKS — Alaska’s Board of Education and Early Development adopted new standards in language arts and mathematics to be put to use in classrooms across the state.

The new standards extend from kindergarten through 12th grade and were designed so graduating seniors will need no remediation courses in college, the workplace, the military or trade schools, according to a press release from the Department of Education.

The new English and language arts standards include not only reading, writing and understanding vocabulary but also a focus on oral language. It will add speaking and listening standards to the pot with discussion of academic topics in one-on-one, small group and classroom settings.

The new math standards set out to prepare young students for harder math principles and prepare high school students for higher learning and careers.

The standards, as proposed in December last year, line up with the requirements for a state waiver from the No Child Left Behind Act. Also required for a waiver are evaluation standards for teachers and principals and an in-state accountability system. The state is planning to apply for a waiver in September.

The waiver would help schools avoid aspects of the No Child Left Behind Act, like the looming 2014 deadline that all schools across the country should be 100 percent proficient in all targets.

Since the law’s inception, targets have risen nationwide at different intervals in different states. Schools in Alaska are having a hard time as the deadline approaches because targets are getting higher for students each year — it is hard to catch up. Superintendent Pete Lewis with the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District has called the ratcheting targets frustrating because it puts school districts in a bad position.

After the latest adequate yearly progress numbers were released for the district last fall, revealing fewer proficient schools, Lewis said that would become the norm.

“Get used to it, we’re all going to be in AYP jail,” he said.

The state expects students to be first assessed by the new standards in spring 2016.
 

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Anonymous said on Tuesday, Jun 19 at 5:59 PM

then homeschool the kids - it's not hard and you will be surprised how much time it really takes to do the required academic work...test well..done... See the school districts make too much money off each kids - and if they can get them special education that goes way up...and some do it on purpose to get more money for that certain school...it's a scam folks...ask the old-school about what their grandmother did for an education? most up here it was correspondence... so pull them out of the school and give them an education you signed up for upon conception...

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ya think it.. said on Monday, Jun 18 at 11:52 PM

might have something to do with the lawsuit with the Dept of Ed and the Mat Su School district...let's hope they get rid of those "entitled" teachers who prey on children to make their life a living hell... yea a bully is sometimes the teachers...not cool!!!

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How about said on Monday, Jun 18 at 7:53 PM

Cutting theBS classes, you know the feel good ones that don't need to be in the school? Teen issues? For one. Give me a break and save money aand educate our children with what they need, not feel good lib brainwashing.

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