A teacher’s work is never done

No matter what demands are made, no matter how much funding is taken

away, the students and teachers in Laguna Beach never cease to shine

-- at least most of the time.

School testing scores surprised administrators who thought a new

math program and more rigorous English curriculum would pump up the

points. Instead, there were some drops in standardized testing scores

in the lower grades. At El Morro Elementary School, the percentage of

third-graders hitting the state target in English testing fell 13

points to 51%. At Top of the World, that number dropped 22 points to

50%. Fortunately, math scores at the schools did jump up.

Whatever the cause for the decline, administrators are on it and

aren’t taking it lightly. An increase in students who aren’t English

proficient is bound to affect scores, but that’s all the leeway

administrators are bound to take.

As Assistant Supt. Steven Keller said: “We can do better. Of

course we can.”

The highly impressive news is that Laguna Beach High School

performed highest in the county in the 2004 California High School

Exit Examination’s math and English language arts sections, improving

scores from last year.

The dedicated teachers and hard-working students continue to make

Laguna schools among the best in Orange County and California. They

continue to meet changing demands and have successfully raised the

bar.

The federal No Child Left Behind Act requires all students to

score proficient or above by 2014.

We are on our way.

As a community, we must continue to do all we can to ensure that

forward momentum continues. We must challenge students to push

themselves. We should fight for state programs that foster learning,

such as class-size reduction.

We must also support their dreams, offer encouragement and protect

city programs that provide them places to further their education.