New rules to impact way dropouts are reported

Carson City School Board members learned Tuesday night that nationwide graduation reporting requirements, which took effect this year will have an impact on the number of dropouts reported.

If a student transfers to a GED program, they'll be considered a dropout until they earn their diploma, the district's statistician Ricky Medina told the board.

He also reported that even if a parent tells the district she's transferring her child to another school, the district will need evidence to document the change, rather than just taking the parent's word for it.

All this is intended to encourage high schools to keep better track of students and to work harder to encourage them to stay in school, Medina said.

Board member Norm Scoggin called the change "a tremendous disservice" which seemed to be "designed to make schools look bad."

"Students drop out for many reasons - economic, social, legal - this does not take into effect the reality of the world," Scoggin said.

But Susan Keema, associate superintendent for educational services, said the movement started with "No Child Left Behind" and that many of the mandates have resulted in positive results.

Medina also outlined statewide changes to high school grade level classifications.

In the past, students could move into the 10th grade after successfully completing five units, 11th grade after 11 units and 12th after 17 units.

New flexibility will allow students to move to the next grade level after earning the units or completing two semesters.

The benefit to the district will be that adequate yearly progress can be marked with more students being able to take high school proficiency exams.

"We don't get credit for test results unless they are in 11th or 12th grade," Medina said.

Board member Steve Reynolds objected to the flexibility because he believes it sends the wrong message.

"We're communicating that ... just hanging out gets you there," he said.

Scoggin agreed.

"I think we're deceiving ourselves that it's based on time (in a grade level). It's a social design rather than an academic reality," he said.

But Board President Barbara Howe said that it offered more options.

"If they (students) are given more opportunities to take that test and pass that test, then it's a benefit," she said.

In other business, the board:

• Approved the class size reduction plan that the district will present to the state to ensure it is in compliance.

• Directed Superintendent Richard Stokes to mobilize a master plan committee and begin committee work associated with the 2010 school bond.

• Gave unanimous support to the effort to accurately count the population during the "2010 Census in Schools."

• Heard a Student Space Camp report from Empire Elementary School.

• Met and heard reports from the 2009 Carson High School homecoming king and queen.

• Recognized Howe for her service on the school board.

• Recognized Peggy Sfreddo, aka Grandma Peggy, for her volunteer work with students in the school district.