School district meets federal standards
September 11, 2008
By Staff
High test scores means the district passes
With high student testing scores on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning exam, the Snoqualmie Valley School District has met federal standards for this year. Overall, the district met Adequate Yearly Progress, but both Chief Kanim and Snoqualmie middle schools have not made AYP in certain areas.
How it works
Students take the WASL to ensure they and their schools are meeting federal requirements under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002.
The federal government measures school and district progress by calculating the students’ scores by demographic, income and developmental need for what is called Adequate Yearly Progress.
Schools must meet AYP in 37 categories and districts must meet it in 111. Missing one category means missing AYP. If a school or district doesn’t make AYP in the same categories for a second year, school improvement sanctions go into effect, requiring the school to form a two-year improvement plan, increase professional development opportunities and allow families the option of transferring their students to higher-performing schools in the district.
The sanctions only apply if a school or district accepts federal Title I money, which helps low-achieving students.
As a whole, the district receives Title I funding but not all schools do. Of the middle schools, only Snoqualmie Middle School received Title I money in 2007-08.
“It tends to go to schools where the children are most at risk,” said Don McConkey, the district’s director of curriculum.
McConkey said many schools can predict when they will fail to meet AYP. Initially, AYP expectations increased every year.
“The federal government changed that understanding because school improvement efforts take three to fives years,” McConkey said. “So now it remains flat and then it bumps up (every three years).”
McConkey explained his concern about meeting AYP in other areas in the future.
“It’s not just the Snoqualmie Valley School District,” he said. “Even the best of the best, they are anxious about this.”
Schools on the list
• Chief Kanim and Snoqualmie middle schools did not make AYP among its special-education students in math. This is their first year not meeting expectations among their special-education students in reading.
• This is the first year Opstad and Fall City elementary schools did not make AYP standards among their special-education students in reading and math in grades three through five. If they do not make standards in these areas next year, they will be put in school improvement.
Calling for reform
With increasing standards and the need to meet the 2014 deadline of getting all students — despite their individual needs — to pass the test, it will become harder for districts and schools to meet AYP. In fact, most middle schools throughout the state will be in improvement as early as next year, according to state officials.
Special education departments are especially hard hit; their students take the same WASL exam as other students, although often extra time or special provisions are granted. Students with severe disabilities can opt-out of the WASL and instead submit a portfolio. Nancy Meeks, director of Student Services, said the district has not yet received the portfolio results.
Meeks said that while WASL scores can help gauge a student’s progress, but there are many ways to monitor learning, including a student’s Individualized Education Plan — a plan that is made for each student in special education.
With both Chief Kanim and Snoqualmie middle schools in school improvement, Meeks said the special education department would reevaluate their programs.
“It’s not only looking at what we are currently doing in terms of services and curriculum, it’s looking at our neighboring districts and talking to them about their process,” Meeks said. “It’s also about bringing the Special Ed. staff around and saying, ‘Have a look at the data. Where do you think we can improve?’ They’re the ones who are doing this day in and day out.”
McConkey agreed.
“It gives us a chance to evaluate the strategies and the curriculum that we’re using and ask the question, ‘Is it working?’” he said.
Yet, McConkey said the district should be proud of itself for making AYP in all other areas.
“The district is doing really well,” McConkey said. “We should be proud of the work our teachers and kids are doing.”
Many are looking forward to November, as the next administration is expected to create reform as the No Child Left Behind Act comes up for renewal.
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