Region’s schools inching higher on federal report card

MATT NEVALA

August 21, 2008 at 10:27AM AKST

Six fewer schools in the Lower Kuskokwim and Lower Yukon school districts made the federally-mandated grade this past academic year when compared to the year before, according to data released by the state Aug. 8.

The State of Alaska Department of Education and Early Development released the information as part of the annual “adequate yearly progress” results, which are required under the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

Ten of 28 Lower Kuskokwim School District schools made adequate yearly progress, or AYP, in the 2007-08 school year, down from 15 the year before. Four of 11Lower Yukon School District schools made AYP in 2007-08, down from five the year before.

The 18 percent dip in LKSD and 9 percent dip in LYSD are likely linked to a rise in standards for test scores.

“I’m not much of a baseball player, but in explaining (the new standards) it would be like moving first, second and third base 50 feet farther apart,” LYSD superintendent John Lamont said. “The bar has been lifted a little higher and explaining that can be tricky.”

The No Child Left Behind law requires students to achieve academic benchmarks, or AYP, on state exams. In 2006-07, 62 percent of Alaska schools made AYP. The number fell to 58.7 percent in 2007-08.

Schools have been measured under No Child Left Behind for six years. Students in grades three through 10 are tested in reading, writing and math. The law requires all students learn at or above grade level by 2013-14.

In accordance with the future standards, target scores for testing rose in 2007-08 for both language arts and math. In 2007-08, more than 77 percent of a school’s students must have passed the language arts portion and 66 percent in math. The 2006-07 standards were 71 percent in language arts and 58 percent in math.

Schools are ranked in up to 31 categories, including graduation and participation rates. A miss in just one category means school doesn’t make AYP. According to the state, nearly half the schools that fall short do so in only one or two targets.

“It is important to note that many schools that did not make adequate yearly progress this year due to the higher targets did show improvement over the previous year,” Alaska Education Commissioner Larry LeDoux said in a statement. “This progress is a credit to efforts by educators to achieve higher levels of success for all students.”

LKSD schools Kiunya Memorial in Kongiganek and Kuinerrarmiut Elitnaurviat in Quinhagak and Z. John Williams Memorial in Napaskiak made AYP for the first time. Kotlik and Scammon Bay turned the trick for LYSD.

“Once schools are off the list, we keep pounding away,” Lamont said. “We know we have to improve.”

Schools that do not make AYP are said to be “in need of improvement.” No Child Left Behind (NCLB) requires school districts to impose consequences on such schools.

Thirty-six of the combined 39 LKSD and LYSD on the state’s report are listed as Title 1 schools, which have a greater percentage of poorer students. Title 1 schools face different NCLB consequences, which range from offering parents a choice of schools – hard to fathom in many rural communities and villages – and funding tutoring to lower-income students, to implementing a new curriculum or restructuring a school’s administration. Districts must implement improvement plans for non-Title 1 schools.

“The kids and everyone involved have to know what AYP and NCLB are,” Lamont said. “It’s not about what we want to do. It’s what we have to do.”

Matt Nevala can be reached at 907-348-2480 or toll free at 800-770-9830, ext. 480.