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NC Schools Propose to Raise Standards
RALEIGH -- Getting nearly every Wake County student at or above grade level sounds like a great idea, but county commissioners want to know how much it will cost before they can commit to it.
Commissioners expressed general support Wednesday for the school system's proposed new goal, which calls for 95 percent of third- through 12th-graders to pass state end-of-grade or end-of-course tests by 2008 and for all students to meet high-growth standards on those exams.
But commissioners said they wouldn't endorse it until they get a cost estimate for the programs that would be needed to carry out the goal. County and school staff members will work together to develop an estimate.
"I admire our local school board for even having the guts for coming up with a systemwide goal," said Commissioner Harold Webb at a joint luncheon meeting with the school board. "As a commissioner, I hope that when the resources are identified, we'll be able to come up with them."
The school board may adopt the new goal Oct. 8.
The school system is replacing the goal it adopted in 1998 of having 95 percent of third- and eighth-graders pass state tests by this year. Wake came close but fell short.
The old goal led to increased county funding, which school leaders have credited with helping to raise test scores.
County Commissioner Joe Bryan wondered whether the new goal is realistic. While 91.3 percent of third- through eighth-graders passed state tests this year, only 81 percent of high school students passed.
"This would require a significant amount of resources to reach the goal," Bryan said.
Schools Superintendent Bill McNeal said the system needs to set high standards .
"This goal does stretch us," he said. "But that's the business we're in. We're in the business of growing young minds."
— T. Keung Hui
School goals lauded, but cost is questioned
Charlotte News & Observer
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