9/11/08

More local schools on federal “watch” list

by Beckye Randall

Local school districts are faced with increased sanctions following the release of a report that showed the number of schools failing to meet federal standards has doubled this year.

The report, issued by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, outlines the schools that failed to make “adequate yearly progress” (AYP) in WASL scores, based on mandates from the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation.

The NCLB proficiency expectations jumped this year, from about 64 percent of the school’s population to almost 75 percent. Measurements are taken over 37 different “cells,” according to Marysville’s assistant superintendent Gail Miller, which are combinations of student groupings and subject areas. If a school fails to meet standards in any one of these cells, it lands on the “needs improvement” list.

For statistical purposes, the total student population is broken into several subcategories that include racial and ethnic identities of American Indian, Black, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, or White, along with societal indicators of Low Income, Special Education and Limited English.

Students may belong to more than one demographic group, impacting multiple scoring categories.

“As an example, many of our schools failed in only one category—Special Education math,” Miller explained. “But that still landed those schools on the improvement list.”

The Marysville School District has only three schools on the list that met the higher federal standards this year, and one of those is actually the Marysville Coop Program, a distinct student population that’s physically located within Quil Ceda Elementary, which didn’t meet improvement goals. The other two schools are Tenth Street School and Pinewood Elementary.

In the Arlington School District, Kent Prairie, Pioneer, Presidents and Trafton elementary schools all met federal standards of proficiency, but Eagle Creek Elementary, Arlington High School, Haller Middle School, Post Middle School, Stillaguamish School and Weston High School did not.

Lakewood’s elementary, middle and high schools all fell short of federal standards.

Statewide 628 schools from 57 school districts have been placed on improvement status, compared to 280 schools in 2007.

“The thing that we try to communicate is that our schools actually did see improvements this year over the years before,” Miller said. “But with a 9 percent jump in acceptable proficiency ratings, we didn’t improve quite enough.”

The higher AYP requirements translate to a 15 percent increase in the number of students who must pass the reading and math WASL in each school. NCLB includes stairstepped testing expectations, with increases every three years until 2014, when 100 percent of students are expected to pass the standardized tests.

“Of course we want 100 percent of our students to be successful,” said Miller. “But NCLB fails to recognize that not all students can have that success on the same rigid timetable.”

On-time graduation rates are part of the AYP measurements, with an expectation of graduation four years after a student enters high school as a freshman. “Some students may need five years instead of four, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re any less successful,” Miller explained.

Low income and ELL students face additional challenges within the federal program. Students learning English as a second language are given a one-year waiver from taking the test, but in their second year they are expected to pass the WASL. Miller and other educators view this requirement as inflexible and unrealistic.

The assistant superintendent, who also oversees curriculum development for the district, admits the value in monitoring and assessing progress through testing and standards matrices. Partly as a result of the growing challenge in passing math requirements, Marysville has adopted a new math curriculum, with major changes in grades 3 through 5 and an earlier introduction to algebra than before.

“The overall level of challenge and content is higher,” said Miller of the new math studies.

As a result of being on the improvement list for three or more years, both Quil Ceda Elementary and Tulalip Elementary were required to offer transfers to another school to its students. About 60 students have opted for the transfer so far, and are now attending the new Grove Elementary.

“That loss of students also resulted in the loss of teachers,” Miller explained. “Both schools lost teachers who were moved to Grove, which meant having to redo schedules. It causes a lot of disruption and anxiety on the part of both students and faculty.”

Families from the affected elementary schools have until September 19 to request a transfer. Grove is at capacity, so any additional students would be moved to Pinewood Elementary.

Title I funds must be set aside to pay for transportation costs for transferring students and to pay for tutoring services, if requested, for those who stay at the schools at Step 3 on the improvement list.

“We have received additional funding from the state to pay for professional development and math coaching for K-8 staff,” said Miller. “Those initiatives will pay big dividends in our students’ success.”

No Child Left Behind is up for renewal after the first of the year, and it’s sure to be an issue that’s closely watched by parents, administrators and faculty at our local districts. Miller encourages parents to contact their elected officials to recommend changes to the legislation that would allow it to offer more flexibility and local control.

“Ask questions,” she advised, “and share your ideas and experiences. That’s what will make a difference in Washington.”