Mark has been an active advocate of improving student learning in the classroom.  Mark supports objective measures of our students academic success in concert with accountability in the classroom to deliver a quality education throughout our school district.  Mark contributed three years to the district as a Homework Helpline mathematics tutor to assist students with their academic curriculum.  Whether it be with the state WASL or a comprehensive plan for individual school improvement, Mark believes the district should set its own higher standards for student success, monitor grade level compliance with EALR (Essential Academic Learning Requirements), and get back to basics in assuring students mastery of mathematics, reading, writing, and the sciences.  It is essential that we are graduating our students with a solid foundation as they enter an increasingly complex and technical workplace.  Evergreen School District cannot continue to allow nearly half of all students graduate without meeting the state Math standard.  Those graduate's career opportunities have been significantly compromised and effectively left-behind.  As your school board director, that will change.

At the request of the State Board of Education, Strategic Teaching has spent the past several months looking at Washington mathematics standards. Using teams of accomplished reviewers, we compared the Washington standards to those in several key states as well as to standards published by key national groups and international expectations. Using a set of nine rubrics (Appendix A) Strategic Teaching evaluated the content, rigor, specificity, clarity, depth, grade-to grade coherence, measurability, accessibility, and balance in Washington State Mathematics Standards. We evaluated each of these characteristics using a mix of item-by-item comparisons and a global review of the standards document. The bottom line is that Washington’s math standards need to be strengthened. If mathematics is the gateway to student success in higher education and the workplace, Washington is getting too few of its students to and through the door. Compared to other higher-achieving states and countries, Washington is not expecting enough of its students. There is insufficient emphasis on key mathematical content. Some key math should be taught earlier in a student’s schooling, and some key math is simply missing. Washington does not provide sufficient clarity in its math expectations and does not ensure that Washington students learn the critical algorithms — math rules — that they need to succeed.

NCLB (No Child Left Behind)

Funding: No Child Left Behind gives school districts more money. In fact, President Bush and Congress are spending more money than ever before on the education of America's children. 

Flexibility: No Child Left Behind gives states and school districts more control and more flexibility to use resources where they are needed most. Principals and administrators will spend less time filling out forms and more time helping your child learn.

Accountability: No Child Left Behind holds schools and school districts accountable for results. Schools are responsible for making sure your child is learning.

School District Report Cards: No Child Left Behind gives parents report cards so they can see which schools in their district are succeeding and why. With this information, No Child Left Behind gives parents, community leaders, teachers, principals, and elected leaders the information they need to improve schools. 

Public School Choice: No Child Left Behind may let you transfer your child to another public school if the state says that your child's school is "in need of improvement." Your school district may pay for transportation for your child. Contact your child's school district to find out if your child has this opportunity.

Extra Help with Learning: No Child Left Behind may also provide your child with free tutoring and extra help with schoolwork if the state says your child's school has been "in need of improvement" for at least 2 years. This extra help is often referred to as Supplemental Educational Services. Contact your child's school district to find out if your child qualifies.

     As a parent and involved Evergreen resident, I am concerned about our schools not meeting adequate yearly progress (AYP) required under the national education standards set forth by NCLB.  

     While in high school, I worked in an institution with mentally and physically handicapped people for over four years, and I am a better person for having that wonderful experience.  I have found there are rich lessons to be learned in helping these people overcome their disabilities through a nurturing learning environment.  As your school director, I would insure our district provided the best equipped teachers, assistants, and learning resources for our special youth.  

     Additionally, it is of great concern that it was recently reported in the Columbian from data provided by the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction that all three of our high schools, Evergreen, Heritage, and Mountain View were not making the grade and in need of improvement according to NCLB requirements.  

     As your school board director, I would strongly advocate for school improvement plans that have increased checkpoints and accountability throughout the school year to measure and insure progress to move our high schools into approved status under NCLB requirements.  We can't afford to wait another year for results and further leave students behind.

IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act)

Guaranteed by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) is an educational right of disabled children in the United States.  FAPE is defined as an educational program that is individualized to a specific child, designed to meet that child's unique needs, provides access to the general curriculum, meets the grade-level standards established by the state, and from which the child receives educational benefit.

To provide FAPE to a child with a disability, schools must provide students with an education, including specialized instruction and related services, that prepares the child for further education, employment, and independent living.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a United States federal law that governs how states and public agences provide early intervention, special education, and related services to children with disabilities. It addresses the educational needs of children with disabilities from birth to the age of 21.

The IDEA is considered to be a civil rights law. However, states are not required to participate. As an incentive and to assist states in complying with its requirements, IDEA makes funds available to states that adopt at least the minimum policies and procedures specified in the IDEA regarding the education of children with disabilities.

(Equal Education Opportunity)

Mark Rossmiller has been the driving force behind many recent improvements in equal education opportunity that have greatly benefited the current and future accommodation of the District's students:

• Mark was successful in persuading the District's administration to institute annual interscholastic athletic and activities surveys required by the state to ensure all students, male and female, are receiving equal opportunity in all the District's elementary, middle, and high schools.

• Mark worked with the District's administration to improve school facilities for students and honor its strategic plan commitment to preserve and maintain the district resident's capital investment in our schools.

• Mark developed an agreement with district administration to provide equal TV ETC cable television coverage for all students that resulted in the first district televised softball competition in the history of the Evergreen School district.

• Mark spearheaded the formation of district taskforces to monitor and enforce equal distribution of many school booster club funding sources.

• Mark succeed in the establishment of the ASB student council at Wyeast Middle School in the 2000 school year.

• Mark was integral in the expansion of bowling and lacrosse in an effort to equalize participation opportunity in athletics for all district students.

• Mark's efforts in the beginning of 2005 were essential in the establishment of new levels of competition in athletics so that girls, as well as boys, get equal education opportunity to develop their interests and abilities. Statistically,  this contributes to better performance in student educational success as well as overall healthier lifestyles for our children as they grow into young adults.