Low Test Scores at Mill Street Give Students Option to Transfer

Picking out pens and backpacks is one thing, but choosing between three different schools? Parents whose children attend may now have that option, according to officials.

The district is required to offer parents the option to transfer their children to an alternate school under the No Child Left Behind Act after Mill Street failed to meet the act’s standards for the second year in row, according to a district press release.

Low-income students did not meet the 85 percent target in the area of reading in 2011. For 2012, the same category of scores in the low-income subgroup will also not make the target of 92.5 percent proficiency in reading, according to officials.

Under the No Child Left Behind Act, schools are expected to meet state-set goals for average yearly progress based on student achievement data collected by the school system, officials said.

However, if a waiver is approved before the first day of school on Aug. 15, the option to choose an alternate school may be withdrawn. The school choices selected by District 203 are and based on capacity, according to officials.

“Regardless of what the final outcome of a waiver request is, the focus at Mill and all our schools will remain the same. Identify where achievement needs exist for each child and provide them with the resources they need to succeed,” said Superintendent Dan Bridges in a press release. “Mill families have shown their commitment to the school, and we hope they continue to do so.”

Mill Street parents received an email regarding the option on July 30. In the email, the school's principal, Mary Baum, described how the school will be addressing the achievement gap. 

“One of the strengths Principal Baum brings to Mill is the fact that she has been through this before with schools that have been in more difficult situations. She was very successful in her prior assignments and that knowledge is going to benefit her staff, the school and the District,” said Kitty Ryan, Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education in a press release.

Transfer forms must be submitted by Wednesday, Aug. 8 and priority is given to the lowest achieving children from low-income families first.

“While Mill Street administrators, teachers and support staff worked diligently to address this issue and have made strides, more needs to be done to identify and address improvement areas,” Ryan said in a press release. “Mill has a very strong community of educators and parents. We believe, working together, that Mill will make significant strides in the coming year.”

For more information, visit www.naperville203.org.