Is it realistic to expect the bottom 50 percent of learners to improve?

Yes. Our expectation is that all students can and will improve and show progress over the course of a year. The key is the mindframe is that we as teachers and school leaders are change agents and so many are successful at changing students in positive directions. In any debate about national standards, the measurement of progress/improvement is the key. Some students may not “meet” the national standard but we expect all students to make a year’s worth of progress for a year’s worth of teaching.