AYP (adequate yearly progress) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Prepared for Dr. Kathleen Airhart and School Board Members
By Mae Fowler
July 29, 2009
According to Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) results released by Commissioner Tim Webb, Putnam County students met AYP Benchmark percentages in every area of measure (which is defined by the state as a “cell”) except one, graduation rate at Cookeville High School. Cookeville High School received School Improvement 1 – Improving status, while all others are in “Good Standing.”
The Class of 2008 at CHS did meet their Improvement Track benchmark; however, it takes two years of improvement to “get off the list.”
How is progress measured?
K-8 schools meet federal benchmarks if they demonstrate in all of the subgroups:
95% participation rate on all state assessments
Required proficiency in math (86%) as determined by TCAP achievement test
Required proficiency in reading/language arts (89%) as determined by TCAP achievement tests and writing assessments
93% attendance rate for the school year or improvement from the previous year
9-12 schools meet federal benchmarks if they demonstrate in all of the subgroups:
95% participation rate on all state assessments
Required proficiency in math Gateway tests (83%)
Required proficiency in reading/language arts as determined by English Gateway tests and writing assessments (93%)
90% graduation rate for the school year (excluding GED and special education diplomas) or improvement from the previous year
No Child Left Behind (NCLB) looks at progress made by nine subgroups: All, White, Hispanic, Black, Native American, Asian/Pacific Islander (API), Economically Disadvantaged (ED), Students with Disabilities (SWD), and Limited English Proficiency (LEP).
A brief recap of AYP results since the advent of NCLB reporting follows:
In 2003, six schools were found to be deficient in one or more cells as described above.
In 2004, the six-targeted schools came off the list because they met the federal benchmarks in every subgroup.
In the end, all schools were in “Good Standing”; however, Putnam County was labeled a “High Priority” system because Students with Disabilities (SWD) and Limited English Proficient (LEP) students fell below the established benchmark percentages.
In 2005, all schools maintained “Good Standing” status while Putnam County moved from High Priority to School Improvement 1 – Improving status. Students with Disabilities (SWD) and Limited English Proficient (LEP) students continued to fall below the benchmark percentages but showed improvement, thereby meeting AYP with Safe Harbor, one of several avenues available for meeting Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status when benchmark levels have not been met.
In 2006, all schools maintained “In Good Standing” status and Putnam County moved from School Improvement 1 – Improving status to “In Good Standing” status with all subgroups meeting AYP benchmarks in all areas of measure.
In 2007 and 2008 Putnam County, all K-8 schools and MHS and UHS maintained “In Good Standing” status while Cookeville High School was still “on the list” due to graduation rate.
Current Basic HS Requirements
TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED: 20
MATH: 3 Credits
Including either Geometry or Algebra II
SCIENCE: 3 Credits
Including one physical science course and Biology
ENGLISH: 4 Credits
SOCIAL STUDIES: 3 Credits
WELLNESS: 1 Credit
ELECTIVE: 6 Credits
Requirements for Students
Beginning High School in Fall 2009
TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED: 22
MATH: 4 Credits
Including Algebra I, II, Geometry and a fourth higher level math course
(*Students are required to take a math class every year even though math credits were earned prior to 9th grade.)
SCIENCE: 3 Credits
Including Biology, Chemistry or Physics, and a third lab course
ENGLISH: 4 Credits
SOCIAL STUDIES: 3 Credits
PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND WELLNESS:
1.5 Credits
PERSONAL FINANCE: .5 Credits
FOREIGN LANGUAGE: 2 Credits
FINE ARTS: 1 Credit
May be waived for students not going to a University to expand and enhance the elective focus
ELECTIVE FOCUS: 3 Credits
Math and Science, Career and Technical Education, Fine Arts, Humanities, Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB)
2. Strategic Assessments
Tennessee's strategic assessment process includes early and regular evaluations of student learning. The goal of these assessments is to measure what students know, identify where more instruction is needed, and design their education plan accordingly.
All students will take tests in the Explore test in the 8th and the Plan test in the 10th grade to measure whether they are on track to meet Tennessee's college and career-ready graduation requirements. These pre-tests identify gaps in learning early and allow ample time for additional instruction so students can remain on track to graduate. Students will also take a college-readiness test - either the SAT or ACT - in the 11th grade.
In high school, end-of-course tests will be administered for 10 core subjects. These exams will count 25% of the student's final course grade. The subjects with end-of-course tests are:
English I, II and III Biology I
Algebra I and II Chemistry
Geometry, or equivalent Physics
U.S. History
We will continue with English I, II, Algebra I, U.S. History, and Biology in 2009-2010.
Chemistry, Physics, English III, Algebra II and Geometry are to be added in future years.
3. College and Career-Ready Standards
Tennessee has updated what students learn to cover the knowledge and skills employers and colleges say students need for the 21st century. Classes cover many of the same skills but to a deeper extent. To define what students should learn, Tennessee consulted a comprehensive set of resources. These resources are listed below. They may be linked from the state department web-site http://tn.gov/TDP/Standards.shtml.
* Achieve, Inc. Standards
* ACT Readiness Benchmarks
* College Board Standards
* NAEP Standards
* College and University faculty input
* Tennessee Business leader input
Additional resources include the following links.
www.tn.gov/TDP Tennessee Diploma Project web page to access additional information on the three improvements outlined above.
www.achieve.org Achieve Inc. launched the America Diploma Project, the national umbrella for state diploma projects. Learn the mission and goals driving this national movement.
Subscribe to the Tennessee Diploma Project newsletter by sending an email to tned.newsletter@state.tn.us with TDP in the subject line.
www.tennessee.gov/education/curriculum.shtml - Explore Tennessee’s learning standards by grade level and subject.
