By T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter

The number of Minnesota schools failing to meet adequately yearly progress (AYP) under federal No Child Left Behind law jumped to 729 this year, an increase of 246 schools over last year.

"The results were not surprising to me," said Minnesota Commissioner of Education Alice Seagren, speaking on Thursday (Aug. 30) prior to the release of the test results.

AYP results were varied among local school districts this year.

The Anoka-Hennepin School District made the AYP grade — some six of its schools that fell afoul of AYP standards last year bounced back this year.

All told, some 121 Minnesota schools that failed to meet AYP standards last year did this year.

"We have found in Anoka-Hennepin when we identify a school as not meeting AYP, we're able to get them off (the list)," said Rep. Denise Dittrich, DFL-Champlin, a member of the House E-12 Committee.

But that takes resources, Dittrich stressed.

Other local school districts also made the AYP cut — North Branch, Lakeville, Milaca — but other districts like Burnsville and Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan did not.

But even if a school district fails to meet AYP, individuals schools within it can.

Although the math and reading benchmarks for Minnesota were not raised in 2007 because the state is using a new test, education department officials pointed to other factors they believe contributing to the upswing in AYP failures.

For instance, the federal government no longer allows Minnesota to use larger "cells" or subgroups sizes for English language learning students and students with disabilities when calculating AYP, explained Seagren.

She cited the change as increasing the odds a school or school district will not meeting AYP.

AYP is calculated separately for subgroups, groups that include students receiving free and reduced-priced lunches as well as for ethnicity.

Determining what weight the test scores of minority students should have in determining school AYP has long been a point of dispute.

Seagren indicated she believes the state can avoid a ballooning number of schools failing to meet AYP in the future.

Critics of No Child Left Behind (NCLB), and a Legislative Auditor's report, suggest a cascade of failure will be seen in upcoming years as standards edge up under the federal law.

"We're hoping the things we put in place — and I feel confident that the things we put in place requiring more rigor and relevance in our schools — are actually going to help," said Seagren.

Seagren also looks to Washington to provide the states with more flexibility in dealing with No Child Left Behind law.

Of the 729 schools failing to meet AYP standards, 110 faces federal consequence for not doing so, according to the Department of Education.

Only three schools have reached the point of forced restructuring — the heaviest consequence.

Rep. Mindy Greiling, DFL-Roseville, House K-12 Finance Committee chair, explained that she has always been cynical of NCLB because the Republican advocates have never provided the adequate school funding to do the job.

She sees a "sinister trend line" developing with NCLB.

"I have always thought the goal was to break up the public schools," she said.

NCLB seeks 100 percent student proficiency by 2014.

Charlie Kyte, of the Minnesota Association of School Administrators, explained that the new AYP results were not a surprise to educators.

"We expected it for a couple of reasons," said Kyte, who, like Seagren, pointed to the use of smaller student "cells."

Unless NCLB is modified, Minnesota will see a massive number of schools failing to meet AYP by 2014, Kyte opined.

The undeserved "scar" will be inflicted on state education, Kyte argued.

Kyte styled provisions under NCFL as "draconian."

Indeed, Kyte suggested that if parents are pleased with the progress of their children in school, pleased with the teachers, ignore the AYP results.

Education Minnesota President Thomas Dooher argued the scores were misleading.

"I would never pick a school based on the AYP score," said Dooher, who recently assumed the presidency of the teachers union.

Excellent schools can be tagged as failing to meet AYP under the federal law, he opined.

Some local school districts making AYP this year include:

•Centennial School District

•Columbia Heights School District

•Rush City School District

•Chisago Lake School District

•Little Falls School District

Some local school districts not making AYP:

•Fridley School District
•St. Francis School District
•Spring Lake Park School District
•Brooklyn Center School District
•Caledonia School District
•Princeton School District
•Big Lake School District
•Elk River School District
•Cambridge-Isanti School District

In the seven-county metro area, 387 schools made AYP in 2007 while 252 did not.

In 2006 in the metro, 438 schools made AYP while 183 did not.

In Greater Minnesota school districts of more than 2,000 students, 216 schools made AYP this year while 144 did not.

In Greater Minnesota last year in districts with more than 2,000 students, 258 schools made AYP while 90 did not.