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Opinion
 

Staff Editorial

                Chris Elliott                        Zach Lee                  Christian Palmer
                Geronimo Rodriguez       Blake Whitaker       Kristen Young

Sounds more like Some Children Left Behind 

Computer analysis by the Associated Press has discovered evidence of schools' deliberate omission of student test scores used to determine general academic progress in the areas of reading and math as demanded by the No Child Left Behind Act.

These findings wouldn't be nearly as disturbing if the misrepresentation spanned students of all races and were not being allowed by the federal government. However, this is not the case.

The analysis shows that, with the full knowledge of the federal government, the test scores of some 1.9 million students, the majority of whom are minority students, are falling through the cracks. 

No Child Left Behind stipulates that schools provide categorical information along with scores, including race, poverty, migrant status, English proficiency and special education status.

However, loopholes in the controversial law are breeding grounds for shady practices. The loophole in question allows for schools to disregard unwanted test scores from a particular demographic if that subgroup makes up an insignificant portion of the school's population. States have their hands in this mess because the amount of aid they receive from the federal government is contingent upon the test scores their student constituents are able to produce.

This law skirting should not be recognized as a step toward racial equality or anything else with a positive connotation.

On the surface, this may seem like a reasonable way to get more aid for students. But what kind of example is that setting? More importantly, with every state vying for the already meager morsels of aid, maybe states should compete and, in the process, step up their respective games.

If the government is truly wants to see across-the-board improvement, such measures should not taken. Accurate representation -- including the scores of every pupil -- is the only way to determine what changes need to be made in order to produce more well-rounded students.

It looks like it's not just the students who need to be taught a lesson.