WE'RE GONNA NEED MORE VOUCHERS:

Flight prompts black school closings (Washington Times, 9/08/08)

Hundreds of black students each year continue to reject north Huntsville schools, often leaving behind half-empty buildings for a bus ride to higher-performing classrooms.

While the transfers are increasing integration in south Huntsville, the demand outstrips the room for extra desks.

'No Child Left Behind Act' leaves schools in a quandary (CHALLEN STEPHENS, 9/03/03, Huntsville Times)

In 2002, President Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act, a sweeping law that demands every group of students at every school perform well on standardized tests. Even wealthy suburban schools stand to be penalized for low scores among small groups of poor or minority students.

"It's the greatest piece of civil rights legislation since the Civil Rights Act" of 1964, said Dr. Jerry Graniero, director of the federal Southeastern Equity Center in Miami. "It's not taking excuses." [...]

[U]nder the federal act three Huntsville schools rate as "needs improvement" because of two years of low test scores. Under No Child Left Behind, all students may transfer out of University Place, Rolling Hills and West Mastin Lake elementary schools. At each school, most students are minorities and most qualify for free or reduced-price lunches.

Thanks, W.

Posted by Orrin Judd at September 8, 2008 7:47 AM