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In the math area, LCS students exceeded the state proficiency levels as follows:
| LCS | State |
Grade 3-5
| 81.47% | 75.1% |
Grade 6-8
| 89.53% | 72.3% |
Grade 11
| 79.87% | 79.3% |
LCS students also exceeded the state proficiency levels in reading:
| LCS | State |
Grades 3-5
| 80.36% | 75.5% |
Grades 6-8
| 80.62% | 71.5% |
Grade 11
| 83.22% | 79.3% |
All attendance centers in Le Mars Community Schools have met the annual Adequate Yearly Progress requirements for the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) act.
Assistant superintendent Dr. Carl Turner made the report to LCS board of education members at their Monday meeting. NCLB is a federally mandated program, with the state's Department of Education implementing the program and monitoring the results.
Data from all students in grades 3-5, 6-8 and 11 is evaluated in the areas of math and reading proficiency.
LCS students exceeded state proficiency requirements in all areas, although the 11th grade math score exceeded the state requirement only by a fraction of a percent.
The assessments used are the Iowa Test of Basic Skills for grades 3-8, the Iowa Tests of Educational Development (ITED, grade 11), and the Iowa Alternate Assessment (IAA, grades 3-8 and 11).
Schools and districts in Iowa must document a minimum of 95 percent participation rate to make the Adequate Yearly Progress. Turner emphasized that all students at LCS are tested and all scores are used in determining the proficiency and growth.
"One hundred percent of our students take the test," Turner told the board. "We want an accurate reflection of our students and their progress."
The proficiency figures are based on students who have attended the school for the full year.
Scores of students who move into or out of the district between testing sessions are not used. Turner indicated that gives a truer reflection of the content being taught in the classrooms.
Students with IEPs (individualized educational plans) in grades 3-8 and 11 who are unable to participate in the regular district-wide assessments are provided with an alternate assessment.
The school district's attendance rate of 96.3 percent exceeded the state's target of 95.8. The district's graduate rate of 92.8 percent also exceeded the state's target of 91.3.
Turner explained that NCLB is slated to end in 2014, and by that time, the state will require 100 percent proficiency for students. "So while Le Mars Community Schools is ahead of the state average," Turner said, "we can't be satisfied with 80 percent."
He explained the state will have a sharp increase in the last three years of the program. "That means we have to make up a 20 percent proficiency gap in the next six years," Turner said.
"No Child Left Behind helps us to make education decisions based on data rather than assumptions," Turner said. "This has been a real plus for our teachers as they are using solid information to make decisions" in their teaching practices and strategies.
"The accountability required by No Child Left Behind is a good thing," Turner continued.
He also indicated the NCLB law could change, and will probably be re-evaluated after the November general election.
"The intent of the law will probably stay, but their might be some different aspects to it," Turner said.
"Our goal for our students is to provide them all with basic skills, make them lifelong learners and equip them to be good citizens," Turner said.
FoodForThought,
Please answer the questions I asked you at the link below.
http://www.lemarssentinel.com/story/1452...
You say above "I could really sell the ISL...".
The ISL is not for sale.
Don't do us any favors, you are right where you belong.
I certainly hope our district "won't be satisfied" with these figures. The number that really should be added to this report, so we have a truer picture of the situation, is how our minority population compares to the state-wide average. Le Mars has a very small percentage of Hispanics, etc., and this plays a huge role in keeping test scores up. If a student is already struggling with English because of a cultural difference, he/she will not score well on a standardized test. If the state-wide representation of non-caucasian cultures is as little as 5-6% higher than LCS, there goes our "ahead of the curve."
To increase this testing percentage, how about a guarantee that 100% of the ISL will be used to fund MANDATED ACADEMIC programs. In the not-so-distant past, schools used to concentrate on two areas: 1.) Preparing students for college with "college-bound" or "advanced placement" courses or 2.) Preparing students for a trade with something like the T&I program our board was in such a hurry to cut. Both of these are equally important to our students, and both should be placed far above extracurricular activities when it comes to spending the tax dollars. In looking at those who have graded from LCS, you will see many more teachers, businessmen, doctors, plumbers, welders, electricians, etc. than you will see professional musicians, NBA or NFL players.
I could really sell the ISL to a lot of people if one of two things would happen before 9/9: 1.) Ask for what you need. If you only need 5% of the general budget, change the wording of the vote and don't ask for a blank check. 2.) Specify that the funds (even with the "up to 10%" wording) will be used ONLY for academics.