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Maintaining adequate yearly improvement on standardized test scores is a goal that should remain a focus in the Corona-Norco Unified School District, board members said Tuesday. The district's overall English and math scores on standardized tests from 2007-08 almost meet the target goals under the federal No Child Left Behind Act for 2009-10. But district officials are hoping students from low-income families and English learners do better on California's Standardized Testing and Reporting program. The district is starting to get some raw data from the standardized tests students took last spring, Deputy Superintendent Greg Plutko said.

"The good news is they were quite strong," he said, explaining the district can't release that data until it receives official scores. The districtwide graduation rate is 90.2 percent, compared to a minimum 83.1percent rate by 2008-09 under No Child Left Behind. Districtwide, 55.3 percent of students passed the standardized tests, with scores of proficient or advanced, on English-language arts exams compared to a goal of 55.6 percent by the spring of 2010. In math, next year's No Child Left Behind goal is for at least 45.5 percent of students to be proficient. Districtwide, 55.7 percent scored that well already, said Bev How, administrative director of elementary education. However, only 41.8 percent of students classified as socio-economically disadvantaged and 42.3 percent of English learners scored proficient or advanced in math. In English-language arts, the achievement gap widens. Among socio-economically disadvantaged students, 38.9percent passed, and only 35.1 percent of English learners earned passing scores, How said. "The children who don't speak English are expected to score at the same level as their English-speaking peers, whether they've been here 13 months or 13 years," board President Bill Hedrick said. By 2014, unless 100 percent of students are proficient in the core subjects, the schools and districts go into Program Improvement, in which state and federal administrators assume some oversight from school and district administrators, Superintendent Kent Bechler said. Academic achievement during budget cuts was among highlights of the past year that board members noted during Tuesday's special meeting. Other goals include better communication to parents and the community. Board member Michell Skipworth said Twitter or by text message are better ways to inform many parents. Bechler agreed, adding that most parents have cell phones even if they don't have computers or phone lines in their homes.

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