Blair Oaks, Linn meet federal target

Like their counterparts around the state, Mid-Missouri's public school students generally scored better this year than last on the battery of tests given in the Missouri Assessment Program, or MAP, according to data released Thursday by the state Elementary and Secondary Education department.

But only two area districts - Blair Oaks in Cole County and Osage R-2 in Linn - improved enough to meet the federal government's "adequate yearly progress," or AYP, levels set by the 2001 "Elementary and Secondary Education Act," often called the "No Child Left Behind" law.

"We are very pleased with the effort put forth by our teachers and principals to ensure substantial improvement in our 2011 scores," Linn Superintendent Mary Elsensohn said Thursday afternoon.

Blair Oaks Superintendent Jim Jones added: "The results demonstrate the commitment of our students, parents, faculty, staff and building administrators to meeting lofty expectations."

The MAP test is given each spring in Communication Arts (English) and mathematics, in grades 3-8. High school students are tested in English I and II classes, and in general math and algebra I and II classes.