Progress measurement for schools advanced

A bill that would create an educational accountability system based on student progress, in addition to universal benchmarks, was advanced from select file March 27 after its implementation was delayed by one year.

LB870, introduced by York Sen. Greg Adams, would broaden the criteria used to assess a school’s effectiveness.

Schools currently are held accountable for students’ results on content area assessments. LB870 would add additional measures, including student growth and improvement and graduation rates. Schools would be required to report the data annually.

As amended on general file, the bill would:
• make data collected by the statewide accountability system available to all citizens;
• require that all probationary teachers — regardless of school classification — be evaluated once per semester; and
• provide stronger authorization to the state Department of Education to create and support career academies.

An Adams amendment, adopted 31-0 on select file, postponed the implementation of the accountability system until the 2013-14 school year.

Senators advanced the bill to final reading on a voice vote.