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