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SOS Academy FCAT Grade Puts School Board in Bind School Faces Closure and Appeal to State Might Not Be Resolved Until New School Year Begins.

Posted on: Friday, 22 July 2005, 15:01 CDT

The Duval County School Board finds itself in a bind over the status of SOS Academy High School. The troubled charter school once again received an F from the state based on its performance on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

It was the school's second consecutive failing grade, meaning it must be closed under the state's directive for failing charter schools. SOS is appealing to the state, in an effort to get the grade changed and keep its doors open.

Today, the board is expected pass a resolution agreeing to go along with whatever the state decides. But the problem is, the appeals process might not be settled until early August. The district is worried that if the appeal is denied and SOS is forced to close, there might not be enough notice to the 150 students who face reassignment to new schools.

"It's not a choice if they get a second F, we have been given a directive to close them," said Ed Pratt-Dannals, associate superintendent of curriculum and instruction.

In March, the School Board voted to renew the charter for SOS High, as well as its sister middle school, on the condition that both schools receive a passing grade this year.

The middle school received a D. But the high school failed because even though the school received enough points to attain a D, the state determined that not enough students were tested.

SOS principal Genell Mills indicated she would file an appeal. She believes an adequate number of students were tested.

Appeals are due to the state Department of Education by Friday, and the department has 30 days to make a decision. That means the high school could be in limbo until Monday, Aug. 8, the first day of school.

Pratt-Dannals said the school system has been in constant contact with the Education Department to express the urgency of the appeal.

"As soon as possible, we want some answers for parents and students so they will know what to do," he said.

Mills said the School Board should vote to keep the high school open. Regardless of its grade, students showed improvement this year, she said.

"We did show a lot of gains in a lot of different areas," Mills said.

The school grade appeal is unrelated to a Department of Education investigation launched after 11th- and 12th-graders at SOS attained unusually high scores on a retake of the 10th-grade FCAT.

That investigation is still pending, and no timetable has been announced for a resolution. Scores of students who retake the FCAT are not counted toward school grades.tia.mitchell@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4425

SCHOOL BOARD AGENDA

The Duval County School Board will hold its monthly meeting at 6 p.m. today in the auditorium of the School Administration Building, 1701 Prudential Drive. The meeting is open to the public and will be televised on Comcast Cable Channel 24, Broadband Channel 29. WJCT TV- 7 will air a tape-delayed broadcast at 11:30 p.m.

These are among the items the board will consider:

Issue: School breakfast and lunch prices

What it means: The board will set the prices for school breakfasts and lunches and establish eligibility qualifications for students who receive subsidized meals. Full price for breakfast is 75 cents for all students. Full price for lunch is $1.30 for elementary students and $1.45 for middle and high school students. Breakfast and lunch prices have not increased since 1994.

Action: Recommended for approva

lIssue: School Safety and Security Best Practices reportWhat it means: The board will accept the report based on a self-assessment of the district's security and safety policies. The report recommends that the school system develop a plan to identify registered sexual offenders who live near schools and bus stops.

Action: Recommended for approval

Source: Florida Times Union

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