The old adage “don’t shoot the messenger” is appropriate to describe Mary Sanchez’s recent commentary, “Reports of district’s demise premature. Sanchez takes issue with a statement in an unpublished OpEd that I submitted to the Kansas City Star.  In the OpEd I wrote: “One district, Hickman Mills in Kansas City, is on track to go from accredited to unaccredited by 2011.” Sanchez suggested that was incorrect, and said I was using “statistics to tarnish a local school district.”.

After multiple conversations with Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) staff before, and after, the OpEd was submitted, I believe Sanchez is incorrect.  The district and Sanchez point out that that the district has school improvement plans with the state, and use that as a basis for saying the district is not on track toward losing accreditation. But the district is in the second year of the two-year improvement plans and the time for a state review of the results from those plans is nearing. All districts must achieve a certain level of MAP test scores to maintain accreditation. And if Hickman Mills’ 2010 MAP test scores are not significantly better than the poor 2009 test scores, the district will automatically lose its accredited status.

That’s why it’s fair, in my opinion, to say the district is on track to become unaccredited, and DESE officials agree

This appears to be a classic case of two sides taking a “glass half- full” vs. a “glass half-empty” approach.  That, however, does not make the “glass half-empty” approach incorrect or malicious.  I fully understand how damaging even a mention of an “unaccredited” status can be for a district and do not use that word lightly.  However, I do think it is important to speak truthfully about the performance of all districts in the state, and to fight for options for parents and children who are in districts that are failing there students.

The Children’s Education Council of Missouri will continue to do both.  When we do, don’t shoot the messenger.

Link to Original KC Star Commentary