Posted: 9/6/05
Caledonia schools make AYP, district doesnít
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
Despite excellent scores in most areas, ISD #299 was one of 247 school districts that did not make adequate yearly progress (AYP) in 2005.
Schools and districts are required to meet targets on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments in reading and mathematics tests to meet AYP requirements. Grades 3, 5, 7, 10, and 11 were tested. Each school has targets in reading and mathematics for participation and proficiency.
It is part of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) federal requirement. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty and state education officials announced the results at the State Fair as part of the Department of Educationís 2005 school report cards promotion.
AYP is broken into different subgroups or cells. Caledonia was one of 35 districts that missed making AYP for only their special education cell.
The index rate target for special education students was 62.61 in math. Caledonia scored 53.66 in math. The index rate in reading was 67.31; Caledoniaís rate was 57.29.
Also, the cell size limit for special education was 40, and Caledonia had 41 students in the cell. ìTherefore, the district then failed,î superintendent Michael Moriarty said on August 31.
ìActually, our scores in all three school levels, the scores were very, very good,î Moriarty said. All three schools made AYP, but the district as a whole failed because of the special education cell failure in math and reading.
Caledonia students had an overall reading rate of 87.31; the target rate was 72.80. The overall math rate was 87.70; the target rate was 69.67. Each of the three individual schools also exceeded its targets in reading and math.
Moriarty seemed frustrated with the process, although he chose his words carefully in expressing that sentiment. ìItís the way it is,î he said. ìThereís nothing we can do about it.î
He emphasized that he was not making excuses. ìWeíre going to try as hard as possible to get the kids up to targets and meet their targets,î he said. ìThatís our goal.î
He did not fault the special education teachers either, and said the results should not reflect poorly on those teachers or students. ìReally they are doing what they should be doing,î he said. ìEverybody is responsible for all these kids.î
Governor pleased
Editorís note: T.W. Budig, who writes legislative news for The Caledonia Argus, covered the AYP story at the state fair when it was announced on August 29. Here is his report.
State officials were grinning over the results on No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and state math, reading and writing test scores that showed increased student achievement.
ìThis is a wonderful, wonderful day for us in Minnesota,î said Education Commissioner Alice Seagren.
Gov. Pawlenty, Seagren and other officials gathered at the State Fair on August 29 to announce the results and the release of the Department of Educationís 2005 school report cards.
According to the education department, an additional 224 Minnesota schools met the federal NCLB adequate yearly progress (AYP) criteria this year than last year.
The number of Minnesota schools not making AYP dropped to 247 from 464 last year ó an almost 50 percent reduction.
The number of all student subgroups ó blacks, Hispanic, others ó not making AYP in 2005 declined over last years.
All groups did better. For example, 124 black student subgroups in Minnesota schools failed to meet AYP in 2004. This year, just 49.
Of the schools not making the federal AYP this year, 131 missed the mark for a single student subgroup, according to the education department.
Sixty-eight schools that made AYP in 2004 did not meet the standard this year. Some 1,969 schools were measured.
Some schools got a helping hand from the federal government. About a third of the additional schools meeting the AYP criteria were helped by changes in federal NCLB rules. For instance, this year schools could meet AYP based on two or three-year averages performance.
Seventy-eight school made AYP based on the ìrolling averageî in proficiency.
ìI personally believe itís a well intentioned law,î said Gov. Pawlenty about NCLB, saying the federal law should be ìembraced.î But NCLB needs more flexibility, he added.
Besides showing positive results in NCLB, Minnesota students also improved on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) math and reading test.
Proficiency rates and scale scores went up for all grades in reading and math.
Test results for seventh grade math showed the most improvement, with 76 percent of students testing as proficient statewide ó an increase of ten percent over last year.
A Department of Education official said trends seems consistent statewide.
The achievement gap between white and minority students is shrinking, though still pronounced.
This year is the last year MCA tests will be based on Profile of Learning standards, recently replaced by the Minnesota Academic Standards. Because of this, it will invalid to compare next yearís test scores to this yearís.
Education Minnesota President Judy Schaubach called the NCLB and state test score results ìexciting and wonderful news,î but also stressed the need for school funding.
Minnesota school report cards are available at the Department of Education website at www.education.state.mn.us, and can also be obtained at the state fair at department booth in the Education Building on Cosgrove.
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