State releases AYP report
The Delaware Department of Education today released its Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) report for public schools across the state.
Statewide, 181 schools met the requirements of AYP; 32 did not. In addition to performance goals in reading or math, schools must meet other targets, such as participation in reading or math and graduation rate or attendance rate.
Delaware schools saw gains in student achievement last year, with about 10,000 additional students ending the year proficient in reading than the previous year and about 9,000 more in math.
A summary AYP report and a detailed report, which shows subgroup performance and other indicators, are available here.
In the past, part of the state’s annual release included school ratings (i.e. “superior,” “commendable” and “academic watch”) as well as school status information (i.e. “under improvement”). That system, which could be confusing and often didn’t give parents a comprehensive understanding of a school’s strengths and weaknesses, was discontinued this spring when the state received federal approval for its application to improve its accountability system under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and better align it with the state’s Race to the Top work.
While AYP is no longer the sole determining factor in school or district classifications, the state is continuing to report it because it provides another data point for educators, parents and community members who want to monitor how subpopulations of students are performing.
Also important to note is another aspect of the state’s plan: a new support system that builds capacity at the district or charter level based on need. With state support ranging from intense to minimal, this system aims to meet needs where they exist as well as unburden districts/charters that don’t need as much support so they can continue doing the good work they have underway. This method also builds capacity on the local level and provides more local control and decision-making about how to best meet building-level needs. The state will announce these levels of support in September.
A third aspect of the plan is a new school classification system. The state announced these designations in July. The classification system recognizes those schools that are excelling as well as provides more support to those that need it. In addition to the previously established Partnership Zone that includes 10 buildings statewide, the state named 13 buildings as Focus schools, based on the largest achievement gaps, low performance of subgroups and/or graduation rates. Districts/charters are in the process of designing reform plans for state approval. Like PZ, Focus schools will remain in that classification until they show consecutive years of strong performance.
Two other classifications are named annually: Reward and Recognition. One high-progress and one high-achievement Title I (based on poverty level) will be named Reward and receive financial awards. Up to 15 schools also will be named Recognition schools for achieving and sustaining significant student academic gains. They, too, will receive a financial award. Find more information here.
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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.
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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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