Release Date: Aug 2, 2004 1:00 AM  

Number of  Schools Rated “Superior” or “Commendable” Increase

Dover, Del.–August 2, 2004At a morning press conference held at the Department of Education, Secretary of Education Valerie A. Woodruff announced school accountability ratings for 173 public and charter schools statewide.

Today’s announcement by Secretary Woodruff identifies that 97 (61 Title 1 and 36 non-Title 1) schools have been rated “Superior;” 31 (20 Title 1 and 11 non-Title 1) schools have been rated “Commendable;”two non-Title 1 schools have been rated “Academic Review;” 16 (7 Title 1 and 9 non-Title 1) schools have been rated “Academic Progress – Under Improvement;” 27 (11 Title 1 and 16 non-Title 1)schools have been rated “Academic Watch – Under Improvement.”

In comparing school ratings to 2003, the results are as follows:

Rating Type	2004	2003
Superior	97	62
Commendable	31	13
Academic Review	2	85
Academic Progress – UI	16	n/a
Academic Watch – UI	27	12
Total	173	172

“This year’s ratings show—as our state test scores did—that Delaware schools are on a path of continuous improvement,” said Governor Ruth Ann Minner.“This progress is the result of very hard work by our students, teachers, parents, principals and other school staff and I am proud of them all.”

Secretary Woodruff stated that this year’s ratings reflect changes that have been made to our accountability system. “In 2004, the Department of Education, along with members of the educational community,worked together to make changes in the accountability system that will better reflect the work our schools and districts are doing to help our children succeed.” Added Secretary Woodruff, “From school and district administrators and support staff to the teachers and professionals who provide the daily instruction, everyone is working diligently to ensure the academic success of every student.”

As a result of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001, all states are required to conduct an annual assessment of all students in grades 3-8 and one high school grade. In Delaware, the Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP) is used to assess student knowledge in reading, writing, mathematics, science and social studies.Student results of each year’s DSTP assessment is then used as the primary means to determine school accountability ratings.

A school’s accountability rating is determined by two components—Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) and State Progress Determination (SPD).AYP is designed to measure academic performance of not only all students in a particular school but of subgroups within the student population.The nine subgroups are: All Students, American Indian, Asian American, African American, Hispanic, White, Economically Disadvantaged, Students With Disabilities and Limited English Proficient.By the 2013-2014 school year, every student in every subgroup must be proficient in English/Language Arts (Reading and Writing) and mathematics.

The federal formula for determining AYP is based upon an established annual target requiring students to meet proficiency.This year, Delaware’s target for English/Language Arts is 57% while in mathematics the target is 33%. Next year, the English/Language Arts target will increase to 62% while the mathematics target will rise to 41%.Additionally, a fixed target of 95% in each student subgroup must participate in the Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP) each spring in English/Language Arts and math in each school or AYP will not have been attained.

This year, the school accountability rating will also include a new component called the “State Progress Determination” (SPD). This is calculated by formula and represents improvement in student performance levels in reading, math, science and social studies. A composite score is calculated for the previous and current year.The previous year is subtracted from the current year and this determines the points of growth. The overall school rating is then determined by the calculation ofAdequate Yearly Progress and the State Progress Determination plus accountability history.

Under this accountability system, schools are classified in one of five categories:

• Superior means that the school has met AYP, is not under improvement and has met additional state criteria.
• Commendable indicates that AYP has been met while the school is not “Under Improvement.”
• Academic Review means AYP is not met for one year and SPD is met or; AYP is not met for one year and SPD is not met or; AYP is met and SPD is not met (second year).
• Academic Progress – Under Improvement means AYP is not met (same subject) two or more years and SPD is met.
• Academic Watch – Under Improvement means AYP is not met two or more years (same subject) and SPD is not met.

Consequences for schools Under Improvement differ depending on whether the school is a Title 1 (receives federal funding for low income students) or anon-Title 1 school and the number of years a school has been rated Under Improvement.

Title 1 School:

• 1 year = School implements choice options.
• 2 years = School offers choice options and provides supplemental services.
• 3 years = Same as year 2 plus school is subject to corrective action.
• 4 years = Same as year 3 plus school develops a plan for restructuring.
• 5 years = Same as year 2 plus school implements the restructuring plan –select one or more NCLB restructuring options.

Non-Title 1 School:

• 1 year = Review and modify School Improvement Plan.
• 2 years = Same as year 1; provide additional prioritized extra time services for subgroups that did not meet target.
• 3 years = Same as year 2; school subject to corrective action.
• 4 years = Same as year 3 plus school develops plan for restructuring.
• 5 years = Same as year 2 plus school implements restructuring plan.

On Monday, August 2^nd, online school profiles will be available for viewing on DOE’s website. The profiles will identify each school’s accountability rating as well as show what targets were and were not met.Parents can also look at school profiles to view student achievement data, staff information and a school’s demographics. The profiles will also provide a reader with school climate information,staff data and program information, as well. It is a powerful tool that parents can use to get a better understanding of their children’s academic environment.

To view school or school district profile, go to:
www.doe.k12.de.us/schools/profiles

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Delaware's Department of Education is committed to promoting the highest quality education for every Delaware student by providing visionary leadership and superior service.	Contact Info. Alison Kepner Delaware Department of Education 401 Federal Street, Suite #2 Dover, Delaware 19901 Phone: (302) 735-4035 Fax: (302) 739-4654 Email: akepner@doe.k12.de.us
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