Should GA Schools Be Penalized For Actions Beyond Their Control?

No Child Left Behind has left little room for error, 66 to 67 percent of students must make AYP (adequate yearly progress) or their school will be put on the 'needs improvement' list. You would think that it would be a good thing, but administrators are weighted with the pressures of trying not to get on the list. An elementary school administrator agrees with No Child Left Behind, that every child can learn, but his issues lie within the funding and standards for children. No Child Left Behind sends in mandates to the schools, but they do not send the funding with it, so the money comes straight out of the schools pocket. Making it difficult for needs to be met within the school. Also, he states that "They hold special needs children at the same standards as regular and gifted children. A child with EBD (emotional behavior disorder) could be just as smart as a child with no special needs, but because of their behavior, might give up in the middle of the test and do poorly on it."All it takes for a school to be put on the 'needs improvement' list is for one sub-group, whether it be special needs, black, Mexican, etc., to fail the test. I was also informed that by the year 2014 there will be no room for failure. One Hundred percent of students must pass in order for schools to make AYP and to not be put on the 'needs improvement' list. My question is, 'How many schools do you think will be on that list?'