Oregon Schools Receive Ratings under No Child Left Behind

[OR Dept. of Education Release} SALEM – State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo today released the 2007-08 preliminary federal ratings under No Child Left Behind for Oregon’s public elementary, middle, and high schools. Today’s report lists schools that are making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) and those identified for improvement under state and federal requirements. This is the sixth year states have issued AYP ratings under No Child Left Behind.

Under Oregon’s NCLB plan for this year, 60% of all students in public schools must reach state standards in English/language arts (up from 50% last year) and 59% of students must meet state standards in mathematics (up from 49% last year). The 2007-08 academic targets are ten points higher than last year and will increase another ten points in 2010-11. Schools must also meet an attendance or graduation requirement to meet overall AYP.

Oregon’s 2007-08 Preliminary AYP Report shows:

· 61.3% (758 of 1237 Oregon schools) met AYP standards; last year, 74% met.

· 35.1% (434 of 1237 Oregon schools) did not meet; last year, 21% did not meet.

· 69.4% (651 of 938) of elementary and middle schools met AYP compared to 85% in 2006-07.

· 35.8% (107 of 299) of high schools met AYP compared to 43% in 2006-07.

· 45 schools still have a PENDING Rating (school report is not complete).

“This information highlights the urgent work we need to do to make sure students are meeting standards at every grade,” Castillo said. “As Oregon implements the new diploma standards, we are creating more tools to help us move forward faster. At every grade, educators will need to check progress to make sure students get the targeted support they need to stay on course to graduation.”

“The Department continues to work to develop Oregon’s growth model, so we can track the progress of each student and provide even better information for teachers,” Castillo said.

“We have raised our expectations for students and schools, now we must provide the funding needed to meet the challenge. I will work with the Governor, Legislative leadership and our partners to see that our schools have the funds they need to ensure that students succeed at every grade,” Castillo said.

One of the purposes of the Preliminary AYP Report is to identify schools needing improvement, especially those serving a high percentage of children in poverty and receiving federal funds under Title I. School districts must inform parents and communities about schools identified as needing improvement.

This year, 36 Title I schools were designated as being in need of school improvement – that is, they did not meet for at least two consecutive years in the same subject. Schools that receive Title I funds and do not make AYP are required to provide parents with the opportunity to transfer to another school in the district that meets AYP. Title I schools that do not make AYP for a third consecutive year must provide students with supplemental services, such as tutoring or after-school assistance. Schools that do not meet AYP targets beyond three years are required to take additional corrective actions.

On a bright note, three Oregon schools previously in school improvement met AYP for two consecutive years and moved off the list. They are: East Gresham Elementary in the Gresham-Barlow School District, Grant Community School in the Salem Keizer School District, and Astoria Middle School in Astoria School District.

No Child Left Behind requires all students to meet state standards by 2014 and requires schools to meet growth targets each year in order to meet the Adequate Yearly Progress definition of the law. As part of AYP, students have their progress measured and reported by the following population groups: economically disadvantaged, students with disabilities, English language learners, and racial and/or ethnic groups.

2007-08 Preliminary AYP – Schools in Improvement

Bend-LaPine SD
LaPine Middle School, Year 2

Butte Falls SD
Butte Falls Elementary School, Year 1

David Douglas SD
Ron Russell Middle School, Year 1

Eagle Point SD
Mountain View Elementary School, Year 1

Forest Grove SD
Tom McCall Upper Elementary School, Year 1

Gervais SD
Gervais High School, Year 3
Gervais Middle School, Year 2

Jefferson County SD
Jefferson County Middle School, Year 2
Warm Springs Elementary School, Year 3

Lincoln County SD
Taft Elementary School, Year 3

Mt Angel SD
St Marys Public School, Year 2

North Santiam SD
Stayton Middle School, Year 1

North Wasco County SD
The Dalles Middle School, Year 2

Oregon Department of Education
Four Rivers Community School, Year 2

Port Orford-Langlois SD
Driftwood Elementary School, Year 1

Portland SD
Arts, Communication, & Technology School, Year 2
BizTech High School, Year 2
George Middle School, Year 4
Lane Middle School, Year 4
Pursuit of Wellness Education at Roosevelt, Year 2
Sitton Elementary School, Year 1
Spanish-English International School, Year 2

Redmond SD
M A Lynch Elementary School, Year 1

Reynolds SD
Alder Elementary School, Year 1

Salem-Keizer SD
Claggett Creek Middle School, Year 3
Houck Middle School, Year 4
McKay High School, Year 3
Parrish Middle School, Year 4
Stephens Middle School, Year 3
Waldo Middle School, Year 5
Washington Elementary School, Year 1

Sheridan SD
Faulconer-Chapman School, Year 2

Tillamook SD
East Elementary School, Year 1

Umatilla SD
Clara Brownell Middle School, Year 3

Woodburn SD
French Prairie Middle School, Year 7
Valor Middle School, Year 4

Consequences:
• Year 1: notify parents, offer transfer to another school in district, provide transportation assistance, revise and implement school improvement plan (SIP), provide professional development

• Year 2: notify parents, offer transfer to another school in district, provide transportation assistance, offer supplemental educational services, revise and implement the SIP, provide professional development

• Year 3: In addition to the school improvement steps above, the district must take at least one of the following corrective actions: replace some school staff, institute new curricula, appoint outside expert, extend school day/year, restructure school

• Year 4: The district must prepare a restructuring plan to implement at least one of the following: replace all or most of school staff, contract with an outside entity to operate the school as a public school, re-open the school as a public charter school, restructure the school’s governance

• Year 5 and beyond: implement the restructuring plan

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