LHS cited for lack of progress

Lawrence High School has been placed on the New York State Education Department’s “needs improvement” list, as 35 special-education students did not meet the state’s mandated standard in math.

The high school was previously in good academic standing in this category, but failed to make what the state calls “adequate yearly progress.” Based on the state’s three-phase intervention process, which consists of improvement, corrective action and restructuring, a school needs to implement a plan that will show progress and continue on that course for two years.

“A school that makes adequate yearly progress for two consecutive years … is removed from accountability designation for that measure, and the school returns to ‘good standing,’” said Jane Briggs, a spokeswoman for the State Education Department.

Lawrence Superintendent Dr. John Fitzsimons noted that the students missed the mark by six points and said that it was due to a state mandate that special-education students pass the “pretty rigorous” Regents exams — the same tests that non-challenged students also take.

“We have a corrective action plan, and we are working with our administrators to nip this in the bud,” said Fitzsimons. The way the state system works, he explained, the school would not have been cited if fewer than 30 students had failed to meet the mark.

Though special-ed. students are enrolled in regular instruction classes, Fitzsimons said, they are pulled out of those classes to meet with special-ed. teachers, but they still have to keep up with the course work required of all students. He added that the district, under the direction of its director of pupil personnel services, Dr. Annette Szafranski, would look at whether the students are being “coddled too much” in the lower grades and are not receiving a strong enough instructional foundation as they reach the higher grades.

“We are going to pay very close attention to this,” said Fitzsimons, who noted that the Education Department examined performance differences between several groups but, overall, the high school hit its target marks.

Board of Education Trustee Rabbi Nahum Marcus said he has fired off a list of questions and is awaiting answers. “I know there was a bunch of special-education classes that are under performing and there were supposed be changes made, but I don’t know if the changes were made,” said Marcus. “It needs to be fixed sooner rather than later.”

The Lawrence Teachers Association claimed that the low number of students enrolled in academic intervention services classes, too many special-education students in inclusion classes. a lack of a testing, and program and staff cuts are the reasons why the high school was listed as needing improvement.

“It is the LTA’s position that far more students are in need of AIS services than are currently receiving them,” said Lori Skonberg, LTA president. “The LTA has consistently requested that no more than one-third of all inclusion classes be comprised of special-education students. At Lawrence High School, in almost all cases, the number is closer to half. This fact may play a role in diminishing the potential effectiveness of an excellent program.”

Some residents have also pointed to cuts, especially in staff, that may have contributed to the problem. “How can you have a skeleton staff of employees and run a school system?” said Barry Ringelheim of Atlantic Beach, who pointed to the firing of 31 total employees, including 13 special-education teachers.

Five other Long Island high schools were added to the “needs improvement” list, while five high schools had their good academic standing restored.