From The Superintendent Jeffrey R. Spiegel        This spring our students are preparing for the Missouri Assessment Placement (MAP) test that begins April 3 and continues through April 21. Under the federal "No Child Left Behind" law, all states are required to give grade-level tests in math and reading/communication arts. Previously, the MAP assessments were required for math in grades 4, 8 and 10, and in reading/communication arts in grades 3, 7 and 11. In the Ferguson-Florissant School District, we also tested science in grades 3, 7, and 10 and social studies in grades 4, 8, and 11. Beginning this spring, both communication arts and math will be tested in grades 3 through 8. Math will be tested again in grade 10; communication arts will be tested again in grade 11. The District will continue to test science in grades 3, 7, and 10 and social studies in grades 4, 8, and 11. In addition, the revised MAP testing program will have four "achievement levels" to describe student performance, instead of the five levels used with the previous MAP tests. The four MAP levels are now: Below Basic, Basic, Proficient and Advanced. What do these changes mean for our students?  Our students and staff are aware of these changes. We expect our students to do well on the upcoming MAP tests. In the Ferguson-Florissant School District we expect our students to excel in learning every day; therefore, the MAP test is just one of the assessments we use to determine if our students are meeting the challenge. In order to accelerate learning in mathematics, the Ferguson-Florissant School District is offering “Algebra for All” for 8th grade students. This initiative requires all 8th grade students to enroll in algebra. This change was initiated because we have seen an increase in the number of high school graduates who are attending post-secondary institutions. As you will read in this publication, our high school students are competitive at the national level on the ACT, which is the test most colleges use as an entrance requirement. Approximately 76 percent of Ferguson-Florissant graduates attend a college or university. Our high schools are college prep institutions. Every student should be allowed to take full advantage of four years of advanced mathematics in high school to compete at the university level. I am very proud of our students and staff for embracing this initiative and look forward to their successes. Every student also should have access to a quality public education. Currently, legislators in Jefferson City are discussing the future of public education and whom they think should control our local tax dollars. I commend our legislators for focusing on the education of Missouri’s children. However, I urge them to review the proven record of success that scientifically based research has had in our schools and to support local control of public education. Seven Board members who are elected by the taxpayers of this District govern the Ferguson-Florissant School District. Those Board members listen to their constituents and together they make the best choices for the children who attend our schools. As this year’s Missouri legislature debates many issues that affect Missourians, it is important that we stress to our elected leaders that public education should continue to be governed by the Boards of Education that the parents and community members vote into office. Representatives from other parts of the state, who are unfamiliar with our District, should not decide how Ferguson-Florissant tax dollars are spent.