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Indiana school accountability ratings show improvements
Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Suellen Reed announced today that the 2007 school category ratings under Public Law (P.L. 221), Indiana’s K-12 accountability system, showed improvements from a year ago. A greater percentage of schools improved this year (21 percent) compared to last year (17 percent), and the majority of public schools (57 percent) remained in the top three categories. A total of 213 schools have achieved the top category (exemplary progress) for three consecutive years in contrast to 40 schools that have remained in the bottom category (academic probation) over the same time period. The state’s elementary schools remained the top performers overall, though the most significant improvement occurred at the high school level. “Changes made by schools are resulting in notable improvements,” said Reed. “We are encouraged to see signs of progress at nearly all levels, but more must be done to turn around those schools that consistently struggle year after year.” With that goal in mind, Reed announced last week that Indiana is applying to take part in a new federal pilot program allowing states more flexibility to meet student needs by targeting resources and interventions to those schools most in need of significant reform. Learn more about the Differentiated Accountability pilot program online at www.ed.gov/nclb/accountability/differentiated/factsheet.html. More Public Law 221 results Indiana saw improvements in the category placements with 21 percent (389) of schools moving into higher categories, 55 percent (1008) remaining in the same category and 23 percent (429) dropping to a lower category. By school type, more high schools (34 percent) ranked in the top three categories compared to last year (26 percent). Slightly more middle schools (34 percent) ranked in the top three categories compared to last year (33 percent). A total of 70 percent of elementary schools placed in the top three categories, a slight decline (2 percent) compared to last year. Public Law 221 placements Passed by the state legislature in 1999, two years ahead of the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, P.L. 221 places Indiana schools into one of five categories based upon ISTEP+ test data: exemplary progress, commendable progress, academic progress, academic watch or academic probation. P.L. 221 placements are based on the percentage of all students who pass the English and math ISTEP+ tests (averaged across subjects and grade levels) as well as the improvement in passing percentage of students over time. P.L. 221 also incorporates the federal Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) measure. Schools that donot make AYP for two consecutive years can place no higher than the middle category (academic progress). Consequences for schools on academic probation Public schools, with the exception of charter schools, that place in the lowest category (academic probation) are subject to interventions designed to provide the additional support needed to improve student achievement. A lower percentage of public schools (7 percent
or 127 schools) were placed on probation this year
compared to last year (8 percent or 147 schools). Of the schools
on probation last year, 17 percent (66)
climbed to a higher category while the other 73 schools remained
on probation.
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Indiana Department of Education |
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