VIDALIA &8212; The variables are different, but the stakes are the same for Louisiana schools this year.

After Katrina, the state board of education waved their policy requiring fourth- and eighth-graders to pass the LEAP before advancing to the next grade.

But they didn&8217;t change their policy on School Performance Scores. Schools still have to achieve the benchmark 60 SPS or risk falling into one of several school improvement levels.

Schools in school improvement have to deal with a variety of consequences starting with a written improvement plan in the first level and culminating with offering school choice or submitting to state control. Three Ferriday schools dropped into school improvement level 2 last year and had to offer their students the chance to attend district schools in Vidalia or Ridgecrest. Ultimately, less than 10 students transferred to a new school.

For Ferriday Lower, Upper and Junior the plan, the goal and the promise at the start of the 2005 school year was to make the necessary improvements this year. District administrators met with parents and community members several times assuring everyone of their confidence that the school&8217;s scores would go up this spring.

No one&8217;s giving up hope, but things have changed, Director of Academic Affairs Fred Butcher said.

&8220;We&8217;ve had a whole different world since then,&8221; he said. &8220;We are thinking positive, and based on the hard work and work ethic, they&8217;ll probably do all right.&8221;

Because the state didn&8217;t lax standards on the SPS, the Concordia Parish district chose to continue the state policy for fourth- and eighth-graders. Students who fail the LEAP won&8217;t be eligible for the next grade without review from an external committee.

Schools have to fail to meet standards two years in a row before additional consequences are added on.