By KCUR
Jefferson City, MO – More than half of Missouri's public schools failed to meet yearly progress benchmarks set under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
Figures released Tuesday show 1,033 of Missouri's 2,055 schools did not achieve standards for communication arts and math.
But Brent Gahn, of the Missouri School Boards Association, says the number of schools that came up short is not accurate. Ghan says there are parts of each school's population that must meet a separate standard.
"Ethnic groups, free and reduced lunch, limited English proficiency, there are any number of subgroups that in addition to the overall student population, each individual one must also meet adequate yearly progress or, again, the building is put on the list," Ghan said.
Missouri used the Assessment Program test to see if schools meet yearly progress guidelines for No Child Left Behind. The federal law requires schools to fully comply by 2014, or face penalties.
For individual school district and building information, click here.