Montana schools aim to improve student output

Well, here’s a first: government schools raising their standards. Compare Montana to Washington State, that just removed the requirement to know any biology to graduate. Via the AP:

Montana’s chief school administrator is asking state schools to increase the number of students who are proficient in math and English and to graduate students who are prepared for college or a career.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen on Wednesday released her office’s draft plan for schools to comply with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act.

It calls for a 4 percent increase in math and English proficiency for all students in each of the next several school years, as measured by standardized tests. It also calls for closing the achievement gap seen among the economically disadvantaged, children with disabilities, English learners and American Indians. Schools’ overall performance would be evaluated based on academic achievement and, among other things, improvement.

Right-Mind