Moberly School Board hears plans to improve test scores

The Moberly School Board received some bad news during its regular meeting Tuesday night but it was assured new things are in the works to make things better as the district prepares for another school year.

The No Child Left Behind Act passed in 2001 requires that all children test at the proficient or advanced level by 2014 in the areas of math and communication arts. An annual target is set for school districts each year, with the target increasing each year toward the goal of reaching total proficiency. For 2009-2010, the target for communication arts, as assessed by the MAP test, was 67.4 and for mathematics, the goal was 63.3 percent.

These target percentages are for ALL students which are divided into subgroups and can be different from school to school. The subgroups in Moberly are black, white, students receiving free or reduced lunch, and those with IEP’s (special education). According to NCLB, all students, no matter which subgroup(s) they may belong, must score at a proficient level in four years.

Test scores plus attendance rates, and, at the high school level, graduation rates, are used to meet a school’s Annual Yearly Progress.

Gena McCluskey, assistant superintendent in charge of curriculum and instruction, told the board that the Moberly School District is at a level 3 with three of its schools, North Park, South Park and Gratz Brown Elementary, at level 4. According to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Level 3 schools indicate there was no annual yearly progress for four consecutive years and correction actions must begin. Level 4 indicates five years without progress and a requirement for restructuring.

Ken Bailey, assessment coordinator, gave an overview of the MAP tests given to grades 3-8.

“Scores were trending pretty much flat across the board for third grade,” said Bailey. “However, in the fourth grade there were significant improvements.”

Bailey said fifth graders saw flat or decreasing scores with sixth graders trending upwards.

Math is the area that is really creating problems for the district according to Bailey.

“We are a lot farther away from the state average in mathematics and communications arts,” said Bailey. “We are significantly below in math . . . That is a big concern for grades three through eight.” (Bailey’s line graphs depicting MAP scores for grades 3-8 – school year 2009-2010 – can be found on page —— of today’s Moberly Mirror) 

At level 4, parents must be notified of the AYP status and corrective action plans. McCluskey said letters went out Tuesday.

While some measures have been in place, others have been added to the plan. These include shortening CLT by an hour and using the time for instruction instead; removing the literacy coordinator and developing a K-5 Rti Coordinator to work on research-based Tier 1 strategies in the classroom; utilize literacy evaluation by University of Missouri ARC to provide resources for Balanced Literacy Model; and providing a new curriculum in communication arts.

McCluskey said training is to begin with the Wilson Fundations and Just Words programs. These programs are an effort to help students with communication arts.

“Just words is a different way of teaching,” said McCluskey. “It isn’t for all students but it is the last way we’re going to try. We’ve tried everything else, let’s ty this. Other districts have seen huge gains.”

McCluskey said the Wilson programs are for primary age students and Fundations will be used in kindergarten. McCluskey said they will monitor student program and decide at Christmas if they should continue with it. Just Words is an intervention and has been used on the secondary special education level.

“We will look at every kid and give them what they need,” she said.

McCluskey said training will begin also with Northwest Evaluation Association. This assessment measures math and communication arts three times per year and marks a student’s individual progress and provides intervention for any student who might require it. McCluskey said computers have been upgraded at GBE to facilitate the new programs.

“We were disappointed (with the test scores),” said McCluskey. “I know how hard the teachers are working. There is a hole in the boat. I am glad to see the gains we have made but we need to find the hole so we can get the boat moving.”