Judge: High Schools Must Change or Close
In an order that appears to break ground nationally, a North Carolina Superior Court Judge ordered state officials to crack down on any high school that, as of this spring's state exams, has a five-year history of pass rates below 55 percent.
Although nearly 30 states have faced similar lawsuits, no judge has gone as far as threatening to close schools or demanding new principals, said Molly Hunter of the Campaign for Educational Equity, part of the Teachers College at Columbia University.
"That's the kind of thing a legislature might say, a state education department might say," Hunter said. "It'll be very interesting to see how this plays out."
This article, written by Ann Doss Helms, appeared in the Friday, March 3rd, 2006 publication of the Charlotte Observer.
Published Sunday, Mar. 5, 2006