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Wednesday, August 27, 2014 | 75 cents
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Schools complain of ‘fail’ label Local school districts join others in touting success stories, downplaying federal mandate
with no action in Congress and the 2014 deadline for meeting AYP approached, the Department of Education granted states waivers on a yearly basis. For the past two years Washington had received such waivers. This year, however, the state’s waiver was denied
By Katherine Smith Reporter
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Trash collection City of Enumclaw offices will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day, but garbage and recycling collection will not change. City customers should have receptacles at the curb no later than 6 a.m. Monday. Questions? Call 360-825-5541.
Weather The forecast for today, Wednesday, calls for a high of 82. Thursday looks to be sunny with a high of 79. Friday is expected to be 77 and partly cloudy. Saturday brings changes with an 80 percent chance of rain and a high of 71. Rain is expected Sunday morning with a high of 67. Labor Day calls for partly cloudy and 70.
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Who’s going to flinch first? The state of Washington and the U.S. Department of Education are playing a game of chicken that puts Washington state students in the middle. A lack of action on Capitol Hill in DC related to updating the Education and Secondary Education Act — its most current iteration is known by the name “No Child Left Behind” — has trickled down to Washington’s school districts, which were required to mail home letters that labeled schools as failing. The label came from the US Department of Education, which revoked Washington state’s waiver from requirements in No Child Left Behind (NCLB) earlier this year, making Washington the first state in the country to lose its waiver. One of the requirements in No Child Left Behind is that schools meet Annual Yearly Progress, or AYP, benchmarks. Among those benchmarks is by 2014 every student pass their state’s standardized tests in reading and math. The ESEA has historically been updated regularly, but has been overdue for a revision for a number of years. That update would replace No Child Left Behind. As the date for refreshed legislation came and went
No change equaled no waiver. Besides mailing home the letters, there are also federally imposed financial ramifications for districts. Schools that receive Title 1 funds — e.g. schools that meet a threshold in the number of students who receive free and reduced lunch and receive federal funds for programs that help economically disadvantaged students in the classroom through additional programming — and are labeled as failing must set aside 20 percent of the Title 1 funds for either private tutors or to transport students to other schools. Additionally, after two years of not meeting AYP, schools enter a series of remedial steps as outlined in NCLB, which can conclude in the reorganization of a school.
DISTRICTS MAKE A POINT OF THEIR OWN
because of a Department of Education requirement that students performance on standardized tests be a component in teacher evaluations. In Washington, including that component in evaluations would require a change in state law by the legislature.
Last week the superintendents of 28 school districts in the Puget Sound Educational Service District, which provides additional resources and support for school districts and includes Sumner, White River and Enumclaw school districts, signed a letter that took a stance against the “failing” label, calling it “repressive” and “punitive.”
SEE SCHOOLS, PAGE 2
Buckley teens’ wish granted By Sarah Wehmann
P
Staff Writer
aeyton Pearson couldn’t be happier to be able to go outside on the deck with his family. He can’t tell you verbally but you can see the joy when you look at his face. A few months ago this wasn’t the case, Paeyton was not able to go outside on his own without someone helping him open the sliding glass door and maneuver down the three stairs to the patio below. All that has changed, Paeyton can now
scoot his way outside where he can enjoy the deck and the families’ new hot tub. With the help of Make A Wish, family and friends and local community members, the Pearsons were able to make the outdoors more accessible for Paeyton. Paeyton’s mom, Cassie, said he sometimes will wake up in the middle of the night and make his way to the deck. The incentive of being able to go outside has helped him learn how to open doors, she added. Paeyton was born with a genetic condition
SEE WISH, PAGE 3
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Paeyton Pearson, sitting, poses with his family and Make A Wish volunteers in front of the families’ new spa. From left to right Reagan, Darbie, Dianna, Cassie, Noah, Allie, Milo and Collette. Photo by Sarah Wehmann
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