75 percent of the 120 private schools accepting state money for voucher students will not be penalized for poor scores on standardized tests.
Under the state's newly released accountability plan for private schools accepting state money for voucher students, 75 percent of the 120 private schools in the program will not see any repercussions for poor performance on standardized tests.
According to a report from Reuters, the 75 percent estimate comes directly from state Education Superintendent John White, who tells Reuters that "we're going to let parents choose the school that's right for them, and then we will hold those schools very accountable for their outcomes:"
Under the new rules, schools will not be penalized for poor scores on state standardized tests if they have fewer than 40 voucher students enrolled in the upper elementary or secondary grades. Those schools can continue to receive state funds even if their voucher students fail to demonstrate basic competency in math, reading, science and social studies.
White estimated that 75 percent of the 120 private schools in the voucher program this year will fall into this protected category.
Schools with larger enrollments will get a numerical grade from the state based on their voucher students' test scores. A school that scores less than 50 on the 150-point scale will lose the right to bring in new voucher students. But it can continue to receive public money indefinitely to serve students already enrolled.
Read the full story here.