AYP: Other States, Other Rules Way Down In the Ninth Paragraph

Lead/Lede (however you want to spell it) paragraph of story in the Hendersonville (NC) Times-News headlined "Area Schools Make the Grade With AYP Results":

"Nineteen of 22 Henderson County schools, or 86 percent, made Adequate Yearly Progress last year, a significant increase from the 2007-08 school year."

Seven more joyously positive paragraphs about how much better things are now follow. Oh glory be!!! Oh Flabjous day!!!

Then comes the Ninth Paragraph:

"It's hard to compare the 2009 results to previous years, however, because for the first time, schools were allowed to count students' scores on a retest."

(cue Gene Krupa rimshot)

The apples taste just like oranges if you pour enough scalding liquid on your taste buds.

By the way, here's a rundown of the North Carolina Proficiency Target Goals for Reading (revised, interestingly enough in October 2008):


Grades 3-8
2007-08 43.2%
2008-09 43.2%
2009-10 43.2%
2010-11 71.6%
2011-12 71.6%
2012-13 71.6%
2013-14 100%

Grade 10
2007-08 38.5%
2008-09 38.5%
2009-10 38.5%
2010-11 69.3%
2011-12 69.3%
2012-13 69.3%
2013-14 100%

Looks like North Carolina might be re-revising those proficiency rates when 2010 rolls around.

It ain't cheating if nobody sees you, and if you ain't cheating, you ain't trying...

Oh, and one more cliche: The devil is in the details. And in the ninth paragraph.