CAVE CITY The Kentucky Department of Education wants every child to be proficient in core subjects by 2014.Caverna Independent School Superintendent Charles Roberts wants his students to be proficient by 2008. Overambitious?No, Roberts said. Were driven by the philosophy that every child can learn. Plus, other school districts have either done it in one or two of the content areas or are close to reaching it, according to Sam Dick, director of curriculum. The core subjects include math, science, social studies, reading, arts and humanities, practical living and writing. When the Kentucky Department of Education introduced the Commonwealth Accountability Testing System in 1999, it wanted schools to score at least 100 considered proficient on the 140-point accountability scale by 2014. Students in grades 4-12 are tested each spring to assess how well they are being prepared by schools. Roberts suggested pushing up the date to his staff several months ago after he and Dick audited several schools statewide, he said. Weve been on a number of auditing teams across the state, Roberts said. Weve seen what other schools were doing and thought, we ought to be doing the same thing. Were a small district and we should be setting the standards. But it was a matter of changing their emphasis from good teaching to making sure that students are learning, which has been a statewide shift since the Kentucky Education Reform Act was passed in 1990, Dick said. Were pushing ourselves to go beyond, Dick added. Its like an athlete preparing for the Olympics. Still, the initial reaction from his staff wasnt what Roberts expected, Dick said. Dr. Roberts had originally set the date for 2005, but after some compromise with the board, he pushed it back to 2008, Dick said. The entire convincing process took two weeks and pleas from several staff members, including Dick, to get Roberts to change his mind, Dick joked. Im a stubborn person, but I realized that we would have to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Roberts said. We couldnt do that. After pushing back the date, the board decided to back Roberts idea. Getting the teachers support, however, was another issue. They were initially concerned, Roberts said. But as we explained things, theyve become more receptive to the idea. Among the concerns, Roberts wanted the teachers to sign a pledge that they would commit themselves to helping students become proficient. The teachers would hang the pledge up in their classrooms, which Roberts and Dick thought would be a wonderful way to assure parents and the community of their promise. But many teachers interpreted the pledge differently, said Cornelius Faulkner, Caverna Elementary School Assistant Principal, who first heard about the idea three weeks ago. Faulkner said teachers are doing a good job, but the pledge shows others there is a plan for improvement. Some teachers thought that their jobs depended on the schools making the goal, said Debbi Lindsey, a science teacher at Caverna Middle School. They didnt understand at first, she said. It had to make clear that it was only a standard and that no job was on the line if the goal wasnt reached. The pledge was only to show parents that were proud of what we do. During Januarys Caverna Educators Association meeting, administrators urged teachers to attend the board meeting so they could get a better understanding of the plan, Lindsey said. But administrators realize, and understand, that some teachers are still reluctant about the plan, Dick said. As we get more into the process, the fear will begin to lessen, Dick added. Dick said the board formed a 12-member school improvement team to examine each schools test scores, consolidation plans and student surveys, then develop a district-wide action plan by June. Meanwhile, Roberts and Dick said they plan to inform the parents and the community by visiting organizations like the Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce and the Parent Teacher Organizations. Will every student become proficient by 2008? Neither Roberts nor Dick know, but said they at least want to get the ball rolling.