State officials were at the New Bedford School Committee meeting Monday, giving their evaluation of the district's performance in the last school year. The report by district monitors looked at several factors inside, and outside of the classroom in determining the district's progress towards shaking its "underperforming" status. The report highlighted improved teacher empowerment, but noted the district still faces big challenges in reducing chronic absenteeism and meeting the needs of English-language learning students. Committeeman Larry Finnerty is troubled by the varying quality of teaching and curriculum outlined in the report.

 

The progress report comes a little over a month before the district must submit a turnaround plan for the 2012-2013 school year. Several draft versions of that plan, due on October 15th, have recieved praise from state education officials.

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