Clinton-Rosette Middle School, 650 N. First St., may face federal sanctions as a result of the No Child Left Behind Act.

Based on the spring 2004 Illinois State Achievement Test, a subgroup in the special education department of Clinton-Rosette did not meet the adequate yearly progress minimum required for public schools, said Linell Lasswell, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.

“These tests are high stake, but they’re not our goal,” said Jessica Donnelly, special education teacher at Clinton-Rosette. “We look to make them successful for the tests and in life.”

The school petitioned the state to reconsider due to a reconfiguration of schools in the district.

During testing time, Clinton-Rosette was a 5th and 6th grade elementary school, but due to the reconfiguration, Clinton-Rosette was changed to a middle school holding 6th to 8th grades, Lasswell said.

This school year, half of the students who went to Clinton-Rosette now attend Huntley Middle school.

“We’re very hopeful that the state will allow the students to come out with a clean start,” she said.

If sanctions are implemented by the state, Clinton-Rosette would need to put in interventions and work on strategies to help students with their needs, including placing reading specialists in the school, Lasswell said.

Teachers would also look at the deficit areas and see where they can improve, Donnelly said. Students would also have the option of choosing to move to another school to receive services.

“Clinton-Rosette isn’t the first place to land their name on that list, and the trend is for parents to usually not exercise the choice to move whether it be because of transportation or if they’re not fully informed,” Lasswell said.

l To make adequate yearly progress, at least 95 percent of students in each subgroup and 95 percent of students in the school as a whole must take tests and each subgroup must meet or exceed measurable annual objectives set by the state each year.

l Title I elementary schools not making progress for two consecutive years are identified for school Improvement and must provide students transfer options to a school making adequate progress.

l Non-Title I schools that do not meet the minimums do not face sanctions but must indicate how they will improve.

l After three years of receiving a failing grade, Title I schools must retain the transfer option and offer tutoring services to low-income students not performing at grade level. Sanctions become increasingly severe each year a Title I school in School Improvement does not improve.

Source: U.S. Department of Education