Probation policy tougher on schools, but gives credit for making progress

Principals, area officers outline spending strategies and other ideas to help schools get off the list

Last month, the School Board approved tougher standards for school probation that left many schools wondering whether they stood much of a chance of ever escaping this sanction.

The new target is 40 percent of students scoring at or above national norms on the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills, or meeting or exceeding state standards on the Illinois Standards Achievement Test. However, little-noticed provisions give schools credit for making progress even if they fall short of the target.

Under the progress standards, Warren, Stowe, and Revere elementary schools all …