Assessing displaced students is priority

Thu, Sep. 08, 2005

Assessing displaced students is priority
By Diane Smith
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

Teacher availability, class size and student assessments are the top concerns for North Texas educators as children from the Gulf Coast enter area schools.

"We are going to do whatever is necessary to assist them," said Stephen Waddell, superintendent of the Birdville school district, which had 35 new students as of Wednesday morning.

Getting a sense of the long-term effect on schools isn't easy. Students may be on the move soon after enrolling, leaving shelters for more-permanent homes.

Assessing new students -- to find out where they fit within Texas' curriculum standards -- is also a priority. And educators must determine which students have special needs.

"There are just a whole host of questions," said Francine Holland, deputy executive director of instructional services at the Region XI Education Service Center in Fort Worth.

The center helped area superintendents cope with these issues during a meeting Wednesday. Information is also available on the center's Web site.

About 70 superintendents attended the meeting.

Superintendents received packets that included a provisional enrollment form, a list of shelters and requirements that have been relaxed for students displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

Just days after fleeing Louisiana, many evacuees became Texas' newest students. They've entered suburban, urban and rural schools. While some districts are accommodating dozens of youngsters, others have enrolled only one or two.

Robert Damron, superintendent of Cleburne schools, said school finance reform remains a top concern for districts grappling with tight budgets and should be on the front burner even as new students enroll.

Cleburne schools, which serve 6,500 students, have added 25 Louisiana students.

"We're going to treat them like our kids, but our Legislature needs to treat our kids better," Damron said.

Susan Simpson, superintendent of White Settlement schools, said the district has 12 new students who are staying with families. Simpson said the district can address their needs directly.

"We can literally do one-on-one and work with families," she said.
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ONLINE:www.esc11.net
Diane Smith, (817) 390-7675 dianesmith@star-telegram.com
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