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fin:~l concern drdt ~vith the tiny number\ of rome classes in 1ou.a.s cnlall distric
ts.
~~li~\.inp "newspapers don't give the whole picture" some educators worried that the loss or
addition of even one or two children at a single grade level could creatly impact the class
..
gar. Pmsinm consequences were magnified for small districts when staff mo\.e, new
students come into the district. or other demands compete (McLaughlin. 1987).
Lo.\sc.s Cr I~OII-rrurr?~lirti*iI school &-€I-irrps. Though no one argued nlith the importance
of student success in the measured areas of math. science, and reading, some worried that
other curricular areas ulould receive less emphasis. Other core course staff as \veil as
technology and fine arts educators had not lost sight that their areas of expertise were not
likclv to be valucd to the extent they might desire. An art teacher understood that she needed
to "take a pr3cticaI approach" and sometimes understand "that money has to go to other
. -
places. One administrator. professing a belief that the design nf the improvement model
n-hile intended "to bring everyone in" might in fact actually cause some "to feel left out."
7'hi\ fc;lr ;Irnonr \onic p;lnicipants in each district \!.as underscored in the realization
[hill ;llrc;ld\ \onie ;~\pect\ of lie ;~ffec~i\.e curriculum had been eroded. All three districts had
*pent con\i~lcr;lhlc ~irile in 11ic lhree \pars previous to HF 2272. derelopinp programming to
;~tldrc\s not on]\* acadenlic concerns. but also behavioral. social. and emotional domains.
Guicl:~ncc personnel in p:1niclllar feared "emphasis on sccounmbilit).. achie\-ement. and
i~pro\.cnien~ inilia~i\.cs \vcre causing other areas to not pet the focus they deserved."
~llmcroor sludieS 11:~ve shoavn [hat parents \vant much more for their children than
:~s\esscd on s[;lndnrrl ilrd tea. ( Sirotnik, 2002). With mandated repofling centralizin~ on
rna~h, rc;lding, :~nd
c~l:~hlislicd will1 p:lrcnts :lnd 111r conirnunit\. as a lrhole.
school district personnel feared a loss of propress believed
is