Decatur schools rated: 'Needs Improvement'

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

— Decatur schools fall in the middle of the pack under Arkansas’ new flexible school accountability system.

Decatur's high school, elementary and overall district each received a rating of “Needs Improvement,” ranking third out of five possible categories under the Arkansas Department of Education new flexible accountability system, which replaced No Child Left Behind accountability standards this year.

Decatur superintendent Larry Ben explained how the new accountability system will affect Decatur Schools during the annual report to the public at the Oct. 15 school board meeting.

In the past, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, also known as the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002, required that all schools reach 100 percent proficiency in literacy and math by 2013-2014.

“That was not going to happen. As the years passed, more and more schools were going to be labeled as failing schools,” Ben said.

Arkansas requested a waiver from the No Child Left Behind Act last spring and the U.S. Department of Education approved Arkansas’ new accountability system in July. The new flexible accountability system requires schools to cut in half the difference between their students’ current average achievement and 100 percent proficiency by 2017.

Students who are proficient demonstrate solid academic performance for the grade tested and are ready to move to the next level of schooling, according to the Arkansas Department of Education website, www.arkansased.org.

Under the new system, schools will be categorized as exemplary, achieving, needs improvement, needs improvement focus and needs improvement priority. While Decatur didn’t make it on the worst list, or the second to worst, the schools didn’t make it on the achieving list either, Ben pointed out. Achievement ratings were measured by 2011 test scores, according to a report from the Arkansas Department of Education.

Instead of just evaluating test scores, the new accountability system will evaluate schools on performance, growth and graduation rates, according to the ADE report. Schools will have to meet performance goals or growth goals, but not both, Ben explained. In addition, the high school will be held accountable for its graduation rate, he said.

The new accountability system will divide students into two groups: all studentsand “Targeted Achievement Gap Group” which will include the economically disadvantaged, English learners and students with disabilities.

The new simplified TAGG system eliminates multiple counting of students who are in more than one subgroup and holds schools more accountable for economically disadvantaged children, according to a report from the ADE.

Both the Decatur high school and elementary school met the new achievement goals in terms of the percentage of children tested, as well as in literacy for both the general population and the TAGG groups. However, the high school fell short of its goal for graduation rates; and both schools fell short of their goals in math, according to a report Ben shared at the meeting.

Falling Test Scores

Test scores in 2012 were below state averages in all areas, even in areas where they had risen above in the past.

During the annual report, Ben shared line graphs of Decatur’s 2012 Benchmark and End-of-Course Exam scores, comparing them with previous years. Test scores from 2011 were used to calculate the flexible accountability rating.

Many of the 2012 test scores, especially in math, fell in comparison to previous years. Decatur’s test scores also trailed state averages, even in areas where they have risen above in the past.

Test scores dipped below 50 percent proficient - or grade level - and advanced in eighth grade, fourth grade and fifth grade math. They fell below 60 percent proficient and advanced in third grade math and high school algebra.

Eleventh grade literacy tests showed that less than 55 percent of Decatur students were at proficient and advanced levels, in comparison with nearly 70 percent statewide.

Decatur did do well in some areas. Seventh grade literacy scores were over 80 percent proficient and advanced, just a few points behind the state average. Fifth grade literacy scores also neared 80 percent proficient and advanced but were still at least 10 points below the state average.

Looking over line graphs of Decatur’s test scores for the past few years shows quite a few ups and downs. A number of factors, including different groups of students and teacher turnover contributed to the peaks and valleys, Ben said. He pointed out that Decatur’s scores could easily bounce back this year.

“It’s not all good news, but it’s news. These provide us with an opportunity for improvement,” he said.

The school’s goal is to be above the state average, Ben said. While that may not happen all at once, Ben said he would like to see more wins than losses.

Common Core Standards

The Decatur School District has implemented Common Core Standards in kindergarten through eighth grade this year, Ben said, but students will still take the Benchmark Exams based on the old Arkansas frameworks.

During the 2013-14 school year, Common Core Standards will be implemented in grades kindergarten through 12, he said. New assessments aligned with the Common Core Standards will be piloted in the 2013-14 school year; and in the 2014-15 school year, the new assessments will become the standard.

A copy of Ben’s Power Point presentation for the Annual Report to the Public can be viewed on the school website at www.edline.net/pages/decatur_sd.

News, Pages 14 on 11/07/2012