| Long Island Schools show marked improvements on | | | | ratios that require more teachers and classrooms, |
| statewide math tests for grades three through eight. | | | | time-consuming but federally mandated paperwork, |
| Albany educational authorities announced the dramatic | | | | and the requirement for highly qualified teachers in |
| improvements this month. Long Island Schools tend | | | | math and science. While most Long Island Schools' |
| to mirror statewide improvements across the board. | | | | educators support those actions, finding the methods |
| According to Newsday, Education Commissioner | | | | to make them happen has been challenging. |
| Richard Mills said, "The fact that children are achieving | | | | Fortunately, with the over $11,000 per pupil funding |
| higher standards in the middle grades is especially | | | | through New York State, Long Island Schools are |
| significant." Long Island Schools, and many across the | | | | more successful than most schools around the nation. |
| nation, have faced the challenge of test scores | | | | Of courses this isn't always felt by board members |
| dropping in the middle school years. | | | | and educators of Long Island Schools. Some districts |
| In its second year of reporting steady improvements, | | | | in Long Island Schools had heated budget debates in |
| Long Island Schools are up in every grade and show | | | | January over trimming the budget and allocating |
| impressive results. 85.2% of third graders passed, as | | | | funds. One major area of concern in Long Island |
| opposed to 80.5% last year. And seventh graders | | | | Schools is early intervention and remediation |
| increased scores from 55.6% to 66.4%. While not all | | | | programs. Due to the successes of the third grade |
| residents in the Long Island Schools district support | | | | after school homework program at lessening the |
| mandatory testing, these results are still welcome. | | | | need for Special Education classes, Long Island |
| New York State has the second largest per pupil | | | | Schools' educators are hoping for funding for similar |
| spending of the 50 states, and often shows the | | | | projects. Early childhood programs are also in high |
| results in impressive test scores. Even so, New York | | | | demand, but didn't receive the desired funding earlier |
| City districts, like the Long Island Schools, have felt | | | | this year. Early childhood classes are credited with |
| pressure to attain the No Child Left Behind mandate | | | | helping low income students better prepare for |
| to get all children to a proficient ranking by 2014. | | | | transition to kindergarten and grade school. Still, with |
| Congressman Steve Israel is pushing for funding for | | | | the massive increase in math scores for the past |
| the Keeping Our Promise to America's Children Act to | | | | two years, Long Island Schools are showing results |
| help fund the efforts. Supporting NCLB is costly for | | | | the rest of the country is still chasing. |
| Long Island Schools due to lower teacher to student | | | | |