When it comes to results of standardize federal and state tests, school districts should be prepared to take responsibility—whether it’s good news or bad.

That notion didn’t seem to be prevalent at a recent Northampton County Board of Education work session.

During that meeting, Northampton County Schools Superintendent Dr. Eric Bracy informed board members that only one out of the county’s seven schools made adequate yearly progress (AYP), which measures the yearly progress of different groups of students at the school, district, and state levels against yearly targets in reading/language arts and mathematics. AYP is part of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

Dr. Bracy said he would not be satisfied until all of the schools in the district made AYP and the matter would be addressed at an upcoming administrators’ retreat. However, as board members discussed the issue Dr. Bracy noted how other school districts failed to achieve AYP.

Board member Kelvin Edwards said there were positives in the overall growth.

Last year, seven out of what were then 10 public schools in the district made AYP.

Seemingly the only Board member that understood the significance of the matter was Erica Smith-Ingram, who said officials needed to be honest about the scores.

We are not saying being optimistic is a bad thing, but when your schools system receives results such as this it’s time to be realistic.

Take care of your own educational shortfalls before passing judgment on the failures of other school districts. The schoolchildren of Northampton County deserve your best effort.