LOOKING IN ON: EDUCATION

By Emily Richmond (contact)

Sunday, July 29, 2007 | 7:02 a.m.

Students in Odyssey Charter School's elementary program turned in stellar performances on the latest round of standardized tests as demanded by the federal No Child Left Behind Act, joining Agassi College Prep on the vaunted list of "exemplary" campuses.

The "exemplary" designation goes to schools that not only have a high percentage of students with top test scores, but also reduce the percentage of scores in the lowest bracket.

The district's first distance learning charter school, Odyssey allows students to work independently , with weekly home visits from teachers and occasional on-campus workshops. Craig Butz, the school's executive director, said a $100,000 state grant last year is one of the reasons the elementary program did so well this time . The money was used for parent workshops, teaching families how to best support their children's online learning , Butz said.

Odyssey's middle and high school programs didn't fare as well. The middle school is in its third year on the "needs improvement" list, the high school in the fourth year. After a school is on the list for five years, the state is allowed to reorganize it, replace key personnel and even take over the campus.

The school's request for $275,000 more in grant money distributed by a commission appointed by Gov. Jim Gibbons was turned down. With the money Odyssey had planned to offer tutoring beyond the campus headquarters at Jones Boulevard north of Sahara Avenue, making it more convenient for students living in outlying areas.

"We feel strongly enough about the program that we're going to find a way to keep it going," Butz said.

That blitz campaign doesn't appear to have paid off.

Ten of Clark County's comprehensive high schools failed to meet the all-important participation rate on the state's proficiency exam, one of the requirements for "adequate yearly progress" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

At Indian Springs High School, the shortfall in participation is the sole reason why the school is now on the state's "watch list."

Students have their first chance to take the proficiency test as sophomores. Those who pass on the first try are added to their classmates who take the test again in the spring of their junior year. The total must equal 95 percent.

Billboards, radio spots and campus banners urged students not to skip school on March 27. Schools that don't meet the 95 percent participation requirement also don't make "adequate yearly progress" under No Child Left Behind .

Part of the problem is that juniors know they'll have other chances to pass the test in their senior year. That makes it difficult to motivate them to show up for the spring test day.

Three schools, Basic, Del Sol and Palo Verde, missed the participation mark on the math test. For Chaparral, Legacy and Western it was the reading and writing tests.

And Bonanza, Canyon Springs and Clark didn't have enough students show up for either section of the test.

Clark County Schools Superintendent Walt Rulffes gave reporters two reasons why he didn't want to hear the media refer to the district as failing.

First , that would be inaccurate, he said at a news conference to unveil the annual list of campus test results .

Graduation rates are up. Dropout rates are down. And more schools made "adequate progress" on standardized tests, as state and federal law requires.

And the second reason?

"My feelings will be hurt," Rulffes said.