Superintendent’s Corner / News Release
The state (KSDE) has now released the final state assessment results for 2008-09. Those results included data that is cause for “great celebration” in USD 284. All schools in Kansas are required to give the State Assessments to the students in the indicated grade levels and content areas. Each school is expected to meet or exceed a mandated percentage of students in those grade levels and content areas at a level of “proficient” or better. Grade levels, content areas, schools and school districts meeting those expected student performance levels are classified as meeting “Adequate Yearly Progress” (AYP). Making AYP is expected and mandatory. For those grade levels, content areas and schools that have achieved at a level considered by the state to be “exemplary” an additional state designation of “Standard of Excellence” (SOE) is awarded. A designation of SOE is only for the “best of the best” for those grades and schools that have already made the required AYP.
Per the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) is based on the premise that in 12 years (2013-14), every child in the USA will be at a minimum proficiency on the state reading and mathematics assessments. NCLB requires that every student be tested. By testing all children, parents and teachers will know the academic achievement of every child, every group of students, and all students. This enables parents and teachers to work together to ensure that no child will be left behind and to ensure not only school-wide and individual progress, but student group progress as well. AYP is the process for making judgment as to whether or not public elementary and secondary schools, districts, and states are reaching the annual targets to ensure that all students achieve the state's definition of proficiency. With the exception of one grade level in one content area, all schools in USD 284 made AYP in 2009-10. Congratulations and thank you to all the shareholders who helped to achieve this level of expected student performance.
Kansas awards the Standard of Excellence designation at grade levels and building-wide. To receive a Standard of Excellence in reading for grades 3-6, at least 25% of students must be in the Exemplary category on the state assessment, with not more than 5% of students in Academic Warning. For grades 7-8, 20% of students must score in the Exemplary category, with not more than 10% of students in Academic Warning. For high schools, at least 15% of students must be in the Exemplary category, with not more than 10% of students in Academic Warning. To receive a SOE in mathematics for grades 3-6, at least 25% of students must be in the Exemplary category on the state assessment, with not more than 5% of students in Academic Warning. For grades 7-8, 25% of students must score in the Exemplary category, with not more than 10% of students in Academic Warning. For high schools, at least 15% of students must be in the Exemplary category, with not more than 15% of students in Academic Warning.
Listed below are the USD 284 grades and buildings that have achieved the coveted KSDE Standard of Excellence designation for 2008-09.
Chase County Elementary School
- Grade 3 Reading
- Grade 4 Reading
- Building Reading
- Grade 3 Math
- Grade 4 Math
- Building Math
Chase County Middle School
- Grade 5 Reading
- Grade 7 Reading
- Grade 8 Reading
- Building Reading
- Grade 5 Writing
Chase County High School
- Building Reading
Thank you to all the shareholders (staff, faculty, administrators, Board of Education, parents and patrons) who helped our students to reach these exemplary levels of academic performance. Congratulations to all the students in these state-recognized grades, content areas and buildings. Working together we can and will accomplish anything!
Greg Markowitz, USD 284 Superintendent of Schools
