Progress made at Cornell

McKEESPORT AREA SCHOOL District truly can say there's "no child left behind" at Cornell Intermediate School. The district's school board was compelled to approve another year of an improvement program mandated by state Department of Education because of deficiencies in Pennsylvania System of School Assessment reading and mathematics achievement test scores.

But it wasn't by much. Of 21 subgroups, 20 met state standards in 2003-04, with the 21st making progress. Overall, fifth grade math "advanced and proficient" scores totaled 48.2 percent (up 15 percent from 2002-03), while fifth grade reading "advanced and proficient" scores totaled 27 percent (a 6 percent increase from the previous year).

Kathy Ritchie, who chairs McKeesport Area's school board education and technology committee, said that final subgroup - minorities in English - also should meet state standards in 2004-05.

One thing that makes her and her colleagues so sure: There was 100 percent participation in the latest PSSA tests.

If we've learned anything from Harrisburg, and anything about federal, "No Child Left Behind" standards, it is the rigid adherence to getting as many students involved as possible.

If we're learning anything from McKeesport Area School District, at Cornell and at McKeesport Area High School, the effort is going to be 200 percent on the part of school officials, teachers and other staffers, to help youngsters in the classroom and, at Cornell, "Beyond the Bell" with tutoring before and after school.

We wish the district continued success in this bid to make sure all youngsters really can read and write, add and subtract.