Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Wednesday, July 13, 2011
(UNDATED) - At least one Indiana school remains on track for a possible state takeover, and as many as 17 others could join it by next month.
Schools which don't improve test scores by at least three percentage points for six straight years can be handed over to a new management team.
In its last chance to improve, Indy's Emma Donnan Middle School lost ground instead, dropping from 34% of students passing the Istep to 32.
The other schools in the crosshairs are all high schools. Scores from their test won't be ready for a couple more weeks.
State School Superintendent Tony Bennett emphasizes a takeover is just one option; a school like Lake County's Calumet High School, where administrators are already moving aggressively to make changes, might face less drastic action, even if its scores don't improve.
The state can also close failing schools, or rewrite their school improvement plan, or overhaul the faculty and administration, either through additional training or by hiring new staff.
The state plans to announce August 3rd which high schools missed the cut, then make recommendations to the state board of education four weeks later.
Along with IPS and Calumet, the state is monitoring three schools in South Bend, two in Fort Wayne and Hammond, and one each in Marion, Gary and East Chicago.
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