| The U.S. Department of Education changed its | | | | test, making it easier for them to |
| rules for measuring the progress of public | | | | understand. Horne emphasizes the need for |
| schools during the 2005-2006 school year. The | | | | more time for these students. So far, |
| impact was devastating to the Arizona | | | | federal officials ignore Horne's argument by |
| schools, which had more than 600 schools | | | | stating that if a group of students are not |
| marked as ?failed?. That is nearly three | | | | counted, then they probably are not being |
| times as many schools as last year. | | | | taught. |
| | | | |
| For the first time, the Arizona schools were | | | | Horne filed a lawsuit against the federal |
| forced to include AIMS test scores for | | | | government in July 2006 to stop the inclusion |
| reading and math of students, who are in | | | | of English as a Second Language student test |
| their second or third year of learning | | | | scores until their fourth year of English |
| English. Another change lessened the amount | | | | language classes. Until the lawsuit is |
| of help a school may give special education | | | | settled, the Arizona schools must continue to |
| students in completing the AIMS test. | | | | include these student test scores. |
| Additionally, the Arizona schools now are | | | | |
| required to expand the number of students | | | | Horne, as well as many educators and |
| tested each year. In the past, they tested | | | | administrators across the state, see the |
| students in the third, fifth, eighth and | | | | federal mandate as impractical. They say it |
| tenth grades. Now, the Arizona schools must | | | | paints an unfair picture of many reputable |
| test all students in grades three through | | | | Arizona schools. They are concerned that the |
| eight, as well as high school sophomores. | | | | negative ?failed? label and bad publicity |
| | | | will damage individual Arizona schools that |
| Superintendent Tom Horne is outspoken on the | | | | have worked hard to maintain their otherwise |
| federal mandates, calling them illogical and | | | | high achievement levels. |
| absurd. He cites that these changes are | | | | |
| responsible for nearly 400 additional Arizona | | | | In 2005, there were 54 Arizona schools that |
| schools failing to meet minimum federal | | | | failed to meet the minimum progress measure |
| progress measures, with about 112 schools | | | | four or more years in a row. In 2006, that |
| failing only because of the requirement to | | | | figure increased to 66 Arizona schools. This |
| include the scores of students within their | | | | mandate puts more Arizona schools on the road |
| first three years of learning English. He | | | | to potentially failing four years in a row, |
| vehemently stated that the new federal rules | | | | which means mandatory state intervention into |
| make it impossible for many Arizona schools | | | | those Arizona schools' daily operations. If |
| to succeed. Many Arizona schools students | | | | these ?failed? Arizona schools continue to |
| have only arrived from Mexico the year before | | | | fail in future years, federal law requires |
| and cannot be expected to be proficient in | | | | the state to make even bigger changes, which |
| English, making it more difficult for them to | | | | usually starts with the replacement of |
| pass the math and reading portions of the | | | | principals and teachers. |
| AIMS test. | | | | |
| | | | Horne hopes to prevail through a favorable |
| The only consolation offered by federal | | | | court decision. Otherwise, many Arizona |
| officials is for the Arizona schools to offer | | | | schools soon will experience dramatic |
| those students a translation of the AIMS | | | | consequences. |