Nine Schools Miss Reading, Math Goals

Nine Howard County middle and elementary schools failed to meet federal targets for reading and math, and two -- Oakland Mills and Murray Hill middles--- came up short for the second year in a row, triggering new remedial efforts.

WaPo offers a quick primer on the consequences for missing the mark (schools that fall short two years running require intervention that could ultimately lead to replacing school staff, changing curriculum and even extending the school day or year).

Overall, more than one in seven elementary and middle schools in Maryland are on the list of school deemed in need of improvement, "despite steadily rising proficiency on the Maryland School Assessment, the test used by the state to measure academic progress," the newspaper said.

"One reason, educators said, is that schools must score a bit higher each year to make 'adequate progress' and stay off the remedial list."

Oakland Mills principal Cindy Dillon told the Examiner her school fell short last year in math, but this year missed different goals for individual groups of students---blacks in reading and scores for special ed students and those who qualify for free and reduced price lunches.

"We're trying to hit a moving target," she told the paper.

The Sun reported that more than 85 percent of Asian-American and white students at Oakland Mills passed the tests, but only 55 percent of African-American students passed, too few to meet the standard.

The other seven school put on notice include:

Bollman Bridge Elementary
Phelps Luck Elementary
Rockburn Elementary
Bonnie Branch Middle
Dunloggin Middle
Harpers Choice Middle
Wilde Lake Middle.