Performance standards will miss deadline

That contradicts statements made by Education Standards Council members last month who said the performance document would be finished on time.

"I think the September deadline at the time it was made was too optimistic," said Keith Rheault, deputy superintendent for the Nevada Department of Education. "I don't think the deadline was thought through."

Rheault agreed the job has turned out to be bigger in scope than its authors originally imagined.

The state is setting new standards for elementary schools in grades two, three, five, eight, and for high school in English language arts, mathematics and science. Expectations for grades kindergarten, one, four, six and seven will be developed this summer and added later.

Phase 2 of the project, yet to be done, would set standards in social studies, computer technology, health and physical education.

The revision has two parts, the first portion a draft document outlining "content" standards, or the expectation of the material to be known by students. A series of public hearings were held across the state to consider the content document and adoption of it by the State Board of Education is expected in August.

However, the performance standards part, the measuring stick that determines what a student knows, if the student is proficient, advanced or needs improvement, was also given a September deadline. Last month, members of the Standards Council said the performance part would be done by Sept. 1.

At a meeting of education officials in Tonapah on Tuesday, a reassessment was made.

"I think it was decided the important thing was to do it right," Rheault said. "Since the content portion of the project wouldn't be adopted until Aug. 20, there was no way the performance part could be done.

"We want a realistic time frame, and we're looking at developing the performance standards by January."

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