Accountability

and

Testing

Dear Parents,

 No Child Left Behind has changed a lot of things in Education.  You have an even larger role in whether your child’s school will be placed “On Notice”.  Attendance and Number of Students being tested is now a part of the Adequate Yearly Progress required of schools.  It is important that you have your child in school every day possible.  It is equally important that your child take the appropriate test when given.  It is hoped that none of our schools will ever be placed on notice and definitely not placed on notice because of the number of students tested or on attendance.  Following is some important information for you.

Accountability:

Accountability has become a big issue as to whether a school or school system is making Adequate Yearly Progress.  A school failing to make the Adequate Yearly Progress will be put “On Notice”, and improvements are required to be made.  There are 4 variables that an elementary/middle school and a high school must meet.

Elementary/Middle Schools

1)                  93% Attendance Rate

2)                  Test 95% of our students

3)                  % Proficient and Advanced in Math

4)                   % Proficient and Advanced in Reading/English/Writing

High School

1)                  Graduate Rate of 60%

60% of students who enter high school as a freshman must graduate from that high school as seniors.

2)                  Test 95% of our students

3)                  % Proficient and Advanced in Gateway Math

4)                  % Proficient and Advanced in Gateway English/Writing

Competency Test:

 July of 2004 will be the least time the Competency Test will be administered.  This test is only for students who entered high school before August 2001.  Anyone not passing the Competency Test by the August 2004 deadline will have to take the Gateway Tests in order to graduate from high school.

Gateway Tests:

 Students entering high school on or after August 2002 will have to pass a Gateway Test in Math, Science, and English in order to graduate from high school.  These tests are given at the end of the school year when a student is completing courses in Algebra I, Biology, and English 10.  The scores made on these three tests count 15% of he second semester grade in each subject.  Students failing the Gateways will have to repeat those tests and make a passing grade before graduating from high school.

End of Course Tests:

 Currently Math Foundations II and English 9 have an End of Course Test that must be taken during the last 10 school days and will count 15% of the second semester grade.  During the 2003-2004 school year, an End of Course Test in U S History and Physical Science will be piloted.  These two tests will then become End of Course Tests in the following years.

It is my hope that all of us will be successful in our endeavors to educate the students in Rhea County.  We want to insure that we are making Adequate Progress.  Parents, you have a significant role to play.  With all of us working toward the same goal, surely we will succeed.

Sincerely,

Dallas Smith

Testing Coordinator

9/2/03