How One AR School Is Trying to Close the Achievement Gap
By:
Updated: November 20, 2012
Dedication.
That's how Wilbur Mills High School Principal Veronica Perkins summed up what it's going to take for some students at her school to meet federal and state standards for math and literacy.
"The public may think that is an easy feat but that is a feat that is monumental," Perkins said, referring to the overall mission of providing quality education for all students in general.
Perkins estimates about 32 percent of her 11th graders are struggling with literacy, 70 percent are having problems with geometry and first level algebra.
The Arkansas Department of Education on Monday released its school accountability report. Wilbur Mills High School is among 46 schools that have students who are persistently below standards in math and English.
Earlier this year, the federal government granted Arkansas a waiver from No Child Left Behind mandates so that the Natural state would have more flexibility in how it evaluates schools and sets goals to close the achievement gap.
In addition, schools are eligible for more federal dollars.
Perkins said last year her school got $90,000 from the federal government to commit the resources to help struggling kids. This year the school got $227,000.
The state has set a goal for schools to close the achievement gap in half by 2016.
To see a list of the schools needing improvement, click here.
That's how Wilbur Mills High School Principal Veronica Perkins summed up what it's going to take for some students at her school to meet federal and state standards for math and literacy.
"The public may think that is an easy feat but that is a feat that is monumental," Perkins said, referring to the overall mission of providing quality education for all students in general.
Perkins estimates about 32 percent of her 11th graders are struggling with literacy, 70 percent are having problems with geometry and first level algebra.
The Arkansas Department of Education on Monday released its school accountability report. Wilbur Mills High School is among 46 schools that have students who are persistently below standards in math and English.
Earlier this year, the federal government granted Arkansas a waiver from No Child Left Behind mandates so that the Natural state would have more flexibility in how it evaluates schools and sets goals to close the achievement gap.
In addition, schools are eligible for more federal dollars.
Perkins said last year her school got $90,000 from the federal government to commit the resources to help struggling kids. This year the school got $227,000.
The state has set a goal for schools to close the achievement gap in half by 2016.
To see a list of the schools needing improvement, click here.
