Release Date: Jul 31, 2009 1:29 PM  

---117 of 195 schools rated either "Superior" or "Commendable"---     

(Dover, DE)  The Delaware Department of Education (DOE) has released the 2009 school accountability ratings for 195 public and charter schools statewide.

Eighty three schools have been rated "Superior;" 34 schools have been rated "Commendable;" 28 schools have been rated "Academic Review;" 17 schools have been rated "Academic Progress - Under Improvement;" 33 schools have been rated "Academic Watch - Under Improvement." 

In comparing school ratings from 2003 to 2009, the results are as follows:

Rating Type	2009	2008	2007	2006	2005	2004	2003
Superior	83	97	96	105	80	97	62
Commendable	34	18	37	23	41	31	13
Academic Review	28	26	21	16	22	2	85
Academic Progress - Not UI	0	0	1	0	0	0	0
Academic Watch - Not UI	0	1	0	0	1	0	0
Academic Progress - UI	17	20	12	26	19	16	N/A
Academic Watch - UI	33	27	26	8	19	27	12
Total	195	189	193	178	182	173	172

"Although overall these ratings have remained pretty much the same as last year's, I am encouraged that many of our schools have been successful in raising achievement," said Secretary of Education Lillian M. Lowery. "Targets increased in both reading and math yet ten of forty-seven schools that did not make AYP last year did so this year. Spanning seven school districts, these schools are showing significant progress, and I commend them for their outstanding efforts.

As a result of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001, all states are required to conduct a federally approved annual assessment of all students in grades 3-8 and one high school grade.  In Delaware, the Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP) is currently 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 three components: Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP); State Progress Determination (SPD); and the school's accountability history.  AYP is designed to measure academic performance of not only all students in a particular school but of subgroups within the school's 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 and mathematics in order for the school to attain AYP.

The formula for determining AYP consists of three parts:  Participation, Other Academic Indicator (OAI) and Performance.  First, the participation rate for English/Language Arts and math, for each subgroup, is calculated by using the number of students with test scores divided by the number of students enrolled during the testing period.  This participation rate was compared to the target of 95%.

Second, the Other Academic Indicator (OAI), which was improvement in reading and math scale scores for elementary and middle schools, and cohort graduation rate for high schools, was reviewed for improvement from the previous year or compared to the annual target. 

For the third consecutive year, performance has been calculated using two models - the Original Model and the Growth Model.  The Original Model, which has been in use since the 2002-03 school year,is used to calculate progress on cohorts of students to achieve targets. In contrast, the Growth Model places value on each individual student's progress towards proficiency. This year, both of these performance models were used to determine a school's AYP rating.  The better outcome of the two models was used to determine a school's rating. 

In 2009, 128 schools made AYP while 67 schools did not make AYP.  Additionally, eleven schools were designated as new schools for accountability purposes and, therefore, did not receive a rating.

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 means AYP is not met (different subject) two or more years and SPD is met.
• Academic Watch means AYP is not met for two or more years (different subjects) and SPD is not met.
• 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 I (receives federal funding for low income students) or a non-Title I school and the number of years a school has been rated Under Improvement.

Title I 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 I 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.

Online school profiles are now 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.  It is a powerful tool that parents can use to get a better understanding of their children's academic environment.

To view school profiles, go to:  www.doe.k12.de.us 

School district accountability ratings will be released in the fall.

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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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