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Caledonia Area Schools making progress towards AYP improvement |
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By Daniel McGonigle
Argus Managing Editor
Ask most people who are in the business of education and it is never a matter of if, but when.
Eventually AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) is going to get every district was always the thinking.
Caledonia has already failed the measure by not meeting the proficiency standards in special education reading.
In fact, “We have not made AYP in the past three years,” noted middle school principal Brian Doty. “We have a choice to be proactive vs. reactive.”
AYP standards
The Minnesota AYP plan looks at four areas in determining whether a school or district has made adequate yearly progress:
*Participation: Schools and districts must test 95% of students in tested grades.
*Proficiency: Students in tested grades must show adequate yearly progress towards proficiency and be 100% proficient in reading and mathematics by 2013-14. Students must score above the “50” mark for their grade to be considered proficient. For example in third grade a score of 350 or above is proficient, in fourth grade a score of 450 or above is proficient, etc.
*Attendance: Elementary schools, middle schools and districts must have an average daily attendance rate of 90% or show acceptable growth towards 90% to make AYP. Attendance data is taken from the previous school year.
*Graduation: High schools and districts must have an average graduation rate of 80% or show acceptable growth towards 80% to make AYP. Graduation data is taken from the previous school year. Schools and districts that do not have at least 40 students to evaluate for graduation will be evaluated on attendance.
What’s being done?
The district has come up with an improvement plan and are following the plan to the letter of the law. In fact, continuous improvement planning is being done. The school is focused on the total system/big picture.
They are taking a collaborative approach with officials from the Minnesota Department of Education. They have also set 10 percent of the professional development Title 1 dollars aside to be applied to AYP improvement.
All students must be 100 percent proficient by 2013-14 school year.
To achieve that goal, the school is trying to meet annual measurable goals and progress, get parents more involved and apply scientifically based strategies for instruction.
Preliminary time line
The MDE will contact districts and schools in August letting them know how they did this year in AYP.
In September, the MDE will identify improvement coordinators. Also in September, regional support team meetings are held as well as school leadership team meetings.
An improvement plan is then developed, or revised, and submitted by November 30, 2008.
You can contact Daniel McGonigle at
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