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The Minnesota Department of Education has added a growth model to report cards the state annually prepares for public schools. In the past, officials have listed school demographics, enrollment statistics and performance on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments-Series II Math and Reading tests, which meet the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act and are used to measure Adequate Yearly Progress.
But until now, the school report cards have only noted how many students were, or were not, proficient. Educators have argued the cards were unfair and gave only a partial view of student performance.
For example, a student might have scored well enough to be considered “proficient” in math, even if the student had already begun to fall behind. Meanwhile, another student may have made great strides in a year but just barely missed the mark. That student would be considered “not proficient.”
The new guidelines will rank the student as proficient but making slow growth. Education Commissioner Alice Seagren says that label would serve as a warning sign.
The second student would be labeled as not proficient but making exceptional or high growth.
State officials hope the newly modeled cards will better show if students are gaining and retaining skills, instead of just passing or failing.
The cards indicate if students were:
Find the data online at: http://education.state.mn.us/ReportCard 2005/index.do. Here’s how local schools new report cards look, and how they did compared with their Minnesota peers during the 2007-08 school year. All numbers are rounded by state officials.
Winona
Math
Proficient
Low: 16 percent; 184 students were proficient but made low growth.
Medium: 24 percent; 281 students continued to grow.
High: 17 percent; 197 students made exceptional growth.
Not Proficient
Low: 8 percent; 94 students were not proficient and made low growth.
Medium: 17 percent; 193 students were not proficient but made some growth.
High: 18 percent; 206 students were not proficient but made exceptional growth.
Reading
Proficient
Low: 18 percent; 261 students were proficient but made low growth.
Medium: 28 percent; 397 students continued to grow.
High: 21 percent; 297 students made exceptional growth.
Not Proficient
Low: 9 percent; 126 students were not proficient and made low growth.
Medium: 14 percent; 197 students were not proficient but made some growth.
High: 11 percent; 154 students were not proficient but made exceptional growth.
Lewiston-Altura
Math
Proficient
Low: 19 percent; 53 students were proficient but made low growth.
Medium: 26 percent; 71 students continued to grow.
High: 18 percent; 50 students made exceptional growth.
Not Proficient
Low: 8 percent; 23 students were not proficient and made low growth.
Medium: 19 percent; 52 students were not proficient but made some growth.
High: 10 percent; 26 students were not proficient but made exceptional growth.
Reading
Proficient
Low: 17 percent; 55 students were proficient but made low growth.
Medium: 31 percent; 101 students continued to grow.
High: 26 percent; 83 students made exceptional growth.
Not Proficient
Low: 5 percent; 15 students were not proficient and made low growth.
Medium: 14 percent; 45 students were not proficient but made some growth.
High: 8 percent; 26 students were not proficient but made exceptional growth.
Rushford-Peterson
Math
Proficient
Low: 21 percent; 46 students were proficient but made low growth.
Medium: 21 percent; 44 students continued to grow.
High: 21 percent; 44 students made exceptional growth.
Not Proficient
Low: 6 percent; 12 students were not proficient and made low growth.
Medium: 15 percent; 32 students were not proficient but made some growth.
High: 17 percent; 37 students were not proficient but made exceptional growth.
Reading
Proficient
Low: 19 percent; 52 students were proficient but made low growth.
Medium: 29 percent; 80 students continued to grow.
High: 23 percent; 63 students made exceptional growth.
Not Proficient
Low: 5 percent; 13 students were not proficient and made low growth.
Medium: 11 percent; 30 students were not proficient but made some growth.
High: 15 percent; 41 students were not proficient but made exceptional growth.
Houston
Math
Proficient
Low: 19 percent; 83 students were proficient but made low growth.
Medium: 29 percent; 125 students continued to grow.
High: 17 percent; 73 students made exceptional growth.
Not Proficient
Low: 8 percent; 33 students were not proficient and made low growth.
Medium: 14 percent; 60 students were not proficient but made some growth.
High: 13 percent; 55 students were not proficient but made exceptional growth.
Reading
Proficient
Low: 19 percent; 94 students were proficient but made low growth.
Medium: 30 percent; 147 students continued to grow.
High: 28 percent; 137 students made exceptional growth.
Not Proficient
Low: 6 percent; 28 students were not proficient and made low growth.
Medium: 8 percent; 38 students were not proficient but made some growth.
High: 9 percent; 43 students were not proficient but made exceptional growth.
St. Charles
Math
Proficient
Low: 20 percent; 75 students were proficient but made low growth.
Medium: 30 percent; 111 students continued to grow.
High: 19 percent; 71 students made exceptional growth.
Not Proficient
Low: 5 percent; 18 students were not proficient and made low growth.
Medium: 10 percent; 35 students were not proficient but made some growth.
High: 16 percent; 58 students were not proficient but made exceptional growth.
Reading
Proficient
Low: 19 percent; 83 students were proficient but made low growth.
Medium: 27 percent; 114 students continued to grow.
High: 19 percent; 82 students made exceptional growth.
Not Proficient
Low: 5 percent; 20 students were not proficient and made low growth.
Medium: 14 percent; 58 students were not proficient but made some growth.
High: 17 percent; 72 students were not proficient but made exceptional growth.
Minnesota
Math
Proficient
Low: 19 percent.
Medium: 28 percent
High: 19 percent
Not Proficient
Low: 8 percent
Medium: 14 percent
High: 12 percent
Reading
Proficient
Low: 19 percent
Medium: 30 percent
High: 22 percent
Not Proficient
Low: 7 percent
Medium: 12 percent
High: 10 percent
The Associated Press contributed to this report. This article is an adaptation of a post on reporter Nolan Rosenkrans’ blog “Open Enrollment,” at http://rivervalleyblogs.com/nolan
CaptnTony wrote on Dec 31, 2008 10:19 AM: