Handful of schools switch sides on state list of failing school

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- After reviewing school records, state education officials said Wednesday that a small number of schools changed their fate on a list of those failing to make progress under the federal No Child Left Behind law.

There was a net difference of 25 schools that met the required standards. Schools that moved from "failing" to meeting standards included: Franklin Elementary, Cape Girardeau and Puxico Elementary, Puxico. Schools that moved from meeting to "failing to meet" standards included: Scott County Middle, Scott County.

Under the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's initial finding, half of Missouri's public schools last year were found to be failing to make "adequate yearly progress" on standardized tests in math, reading or both.

Some could face penalties if they don't improve during this school year.

The No Child Left Behind Act sets a goal of having all children proficient in reading and math by 2014 and requires each state to set annual achievement targets.

Districts could appeal if they thought there was an error in the data, such as the number of students counted as disabled, for example, or struggling with English.

After reviewing that information, the department determined that 36 schools originally found to be failing actually met the standards, while 11 schools went the other way and are now considered failing to make adequate progress.

Now, 1,046 schools of 2,053 -- still about half -- met the standards in both subjects.