"The auditors reviewed school board policies specific to assessment and interview data from central office administrators, principals, curriculum coordinators and teachers. The policies included state mandates and locally developed policies. While many policies have been implemented, there is some incongruence between policy and practice."

"No policies establish a direct connection between assessment data and the design and delivery of curriculum."

"Current board policy requires that these (secondary school) end of semester exams be given...Policy EIAA also states that semester exams in grades 9-12 count as on-fourth of the semester grade. Semester exams in grades 7-8 count as one-seventh of the semester grade. The prinicpal is required to submit copies of all final exams to the curriculum department within 15 days after the close of each semester."

Information from interviews with principals and curriculum coordinators indicated that in some cases the semester exams were given, but not scored. In other instances the semester exams are not given at all."

USP editors' comment: The practice of administration acting in direct contradiction to board directives and policies is not uncommon. Unfortunately, the usual remedy is for administration to simply re-write board policy, a practice the board has proven powerless to prevent.

"Until expectations regarding the administration, scoring and use of data from the end of semester exams are aligned with practice, there is lack of quality control of the secondary curriculum. The board and administration have no way of knowing whether students meet course outcomes for the majority of courses taught in the secondary schools."