District Annual Education Report (AER) Cover Letter
August 15, 2011
Dear Parents and Community Members:
We are pleased to present you with the Annual Education Report (AER) which provides key information on the 2010-2011 educational progress for the Saline Area Schools. The AER addresses the complex reporting information required by federal and some requirements of state laws; however, our staff is available to help you understand this information. Please contact Steve Laatsch, Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services at 429-8002 or laatschs@saline.k12.mi.us for help if you need assistance.
The AER is available for you to review electronically by visiting the following web site www.salineschools.comand clicking on the link “2010/11” Annual Report” or you may review a copy in the principal’s office at your child’s school.
The report contains the following information:
I. Student Assessment Data− Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP), Michigan Merit Exam (MME), and Michigan’s Alternative Assessment Program (MI-Access)
· Presents achievement data for English language arts and mathematics for grades 3 to 8 (MEAP), for grade 11 (MME) and science for grades 5 and 8 compared to targets for all students as well as subgroups of students
· Provides achievement data for English language arts, mathematics and science for students with significant disabilities (MI-Access) compared to targets for all students with disabilities as well as subgroups of students
· Helps readers understand achievement progress within schools and compare these to district and state achievement
II. Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) – Detail Data / Status
Provides information from assessments, graduation and attendance rates and AYP status in relation to four criteria:
· The district must test 95% of students in total and in each required subgroup
· The district must attain achievement goals in English language arts and mathematics or reduce the percentage of students in the non-proficient category of achievement significantly ("safe harbor") annually
· The district must attain achievement goals for each subgroup that has at least 30 students in the group
· The district must meet or exceed the other academic indicators set by the state: graduation rate for high schools and attendance rate for elementary and middle schools
· Identifies teacher qualifications at district and school levels
· Reports percentage of core academic classes taught by teachers not considered highly qualified to teach such classes
IV. NAEP Data (National Assessment of Educational Progress)
· Provides state results of the national assessment in mathematics and reading every other year in grades 4 and 8
· Cannot be compared with MEAP results for grades 4 and 8 because there are no national standards.
V. Other State Reporting Requirements
1. Process for assigning pupils to schools
2. The status of the district school improvement plan and the individual school improvement plans
3. Descriptions of each of our schools
4. The core curriculum and how it is implemented
5. Student achievement results for the NWEA and the normative data chart to interpret the results
6. The percentage of students represented by parents at parent-teacher conferences
7. Saline High School …..number and percent of postsecondary enrollments, number of college equivalent courses offered (AP courses), number and percentage of students enrolled in AP courses, and the number and percentage of students receiving a score leading to college credit
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For 2010-2011, Saline Area Schools made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in English language arts and mathematics. All schools in the district except Saline High School also made AYP. Saline High School did not make AYP because we did not meet adequate progress, as defined by No Child Left Behind, in the sub-section of “special education” in the area of “mathematics.” In short, we needed 67% of our special education students to be deemed proficient on either the MI Access or MME tests that were administered in the Spring of 2011. Only 55% of our special education students were deemed proficient in mathematics. We will work diligently to target this particular sub-group of students with the aim of better results in the following school year. None of our schools were identified for school improvement, corrective action or restructuring.
We are very proud of the results showcased on this most recent annual education report. Our goal continues to keep student learning at the forefront of our school district.
Sincerely,
Scot Graden, Superintendent
Saline Area Schools
