School District Backslides

July 1. That deadline should have been triple-stamped on the foreheads of everyone responsible in the Los Angeles Unified School District for getting the annual student performance exams to the testing company on time. The district blew it on nearly half the tests, forcing the state to postpone the release of statewide scores for two weeks and causing parents who were beginning to take a kinder look at public schools to think again.

Because Los Angeles is the state’s largest school district, the missing answer sheets represent 5% of the 4.5 million tests given statewide last spring to grades two through 11. All scores must be rerun to provide an accurate measure of statewide progress. The state is demanding at least $50,000 from the LAUSD to cover the extra expense. The cost to the credibility of a school district struggling to turn around a reputation for blowing things could be even higher.

There’s no excuse. Yes, the job demanded more this year because the state required more demographic data on students, such as family income and education of parents. Another change forced schools to turn in more paperwork for students who didn’t take the test. Completing this was difficult, but every other school district managed to do it on time.

To verify all of the forms, the LAUSD needed twice the number of clerks it had. The district also needed a better plan, stronger supervision and more frequent communication down to the clerks and up to the superintendent.

No one should scapegoat overwhelmed clerks. The blame belongs with LAUSD management.

Los Angeles schools Supt. Roy Romer stresses raising test scores as his highest priority. He found out about the missed deadline weeks after the fact. He promises this will never happen again. It won’t, if the top bosses are held accountable.