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In May 2008 Guilford County residents vote on $457 million in school bonds. The package contains 27 projects, which include five new schools and 6,571 new student seats. Thirteen schools will receive major renovations and additions. Of the prioritized list of projects:
- 93.5 percent of the request relieves overcrowding,
- 3.5 percent targets repairs and renovations, and
- 3 percent is for district-wide improvements to heating and air conditioning systems.
The following Web sites describe bond issues:
ABCs. The ABCs is North Carolina's comprehensive plan to improve public schools that is based on three goals: strong local accountability, an emphasis on student mastery of basic skills, and as much local control as possible. The ABCs has been in operation in all schools since 1997-98. The model focuses on schools meeting growth expectations for student achievement as well as on the overall percentage of students who scored at or above grade level. The model uses end-of-grade tests in grades 3-8 in reading and mathematics to measure growth at the elementary and middle school levels and end-of-course tests to measure growth at the high school level and at the middle school level where appropriate. Certified staff members receive bonuses based on student growth and schools receive recognition based on the percentage of students' scores at or above grade level.
Adequate Yearly Progress is the Federal measurement for No Child Left Behind. Required under the federal No Child Left Behind law, AYP provides another way to measure school performance. To meet AYP, a school must meet target goals for each group of students that numbers 40 or more. Target goals are set annually by the state for reading and mathematics at grades 3-8 and 10, and for attendance rates or graduation rates as well. AYP is an all-or-nothing model. If a school misses one target, it does not make AYP. The long-term goal of AYP is to have every school at 100 percent student proficiency by 2013-14.
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