Should Virginia provide tax credits to people who make donations to tuition funds for private schools?  This week’s point / counterpoint has sparked a wide-ranging discussion among readers. Wilbert weighed in yesterday:

Schools are being portrayed as failing for not meeting AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) as determined by Standards of Learning scores. Most people don’t understand the way AYP works with regards to sub-groups. This year around 90% of students had to pass the SOL test in Reading for a school to make AYP. What people may not know is every sub-group also had to pass at this 90% rate for the school to make AYP. Sub groups include low income, special education, minority, and ESL students. So if 95% of the school passed, but only 80% of the special education students did, then the school does not make AYP. Knowing why a school did not meet AYP is important in determining the strengths and weaknesses of the school.

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