Delaware: Educational Accountability (page 2)

Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP)

The Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP) is the foundation for student, school and school district accountability. The DSTP has been in place since 1998 and helps measure how well students are performing against the standards established by Delaware educators, parents and the community. Test results help identify student strengths and individual learning needs and guide teachers as they enhance instruction. DSTP results also help districts determine student promotion from grade to grade. Students in grades 3, 5, 8 and 10 are tested in reading, writing and mathematics while students in grades 4, 6, 8 and 11 are tested in science and social studies. We often refer to these grades as the “accountability grades” since they are used to determine district and school  accountability ratings. There are five performance levels for these grades:

Level 5 Distinguished

Level 4 Exceeds the Standard

Level 3 Meets the Standard

Level 2 Below the Standard

Level 1 Well Below the Standard

Students in grades 2, 4, 6, 7 and 9 are also tested in reading, writing and mathematics. The scores for these  grades are used to help us know if students are making progress towards the standards and serve as an “early warning” for students who need extra help. Beginning in 2006, these grades will become part of the school and district rating determinations.

You can find more information about the DSTP at:

http://www.doe.k12.de.us/aab/default.shtml

No Child Left Behind

Establishing Goals for Student Achievement.

The federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law required states to set student performance targets for  English/Language Arts and for Mathematics. Schools and districts are to meet or exceed the targets set for each year. Schools and districts are required to test at least 95% of their students in the tested grades each year. In addition, they are to maintain or make progress on Other Academic Indicators (OAI). NCLB requires school and district ratings to be based on the performance of ALL students and on the performance of subgroups of students. There are eight subgroups including the five major racial/ethnic categories: White, African American, Hispanic, Asian American, and American Indian as well as Special Education students, Limited English Proficient students and Economically Disadvantaged students.

Rewards and Consequences

Acknowledging Achievement. Encouraging Improvement.

Superior schools and districts receive a banner that they can display in their school or district office. Commendable schools receive a custom engraved plaque for display in their school or district office. For schools that do not meet Adequate Yearly Progress, specific consequences result. It is important to understand there are two kinds of schools that receive these ratings. Some schools are Title I schools that receive federal funding to support low income students who need additional academic help. Since Title I schools receive this funding, the federal government has special requirements for them. Other schools that do not receive this funding are called Non-Title I Schools. The consequences for each are explained in the following charts:

Consequences of not meeting AYP

Title I Schools

1 Year   No consequences

2 Years Under School Improvement (USI) – begin Title I parental choice option and improvement plan required

3 Years Remain Under School Improvement – begin supplemental services option for low-income students

4 Years Corrective Action – select one or more NCLB corrective action options

5 Years Restructuring Plan – select one or more NCLB restructuring options

6 Years Restructuring Implementation

Non-Title I Schools

1 Year   No consequences

2 Years Under School Improvement (USI) and improvement plan required

3 Years Remain Under School Improvement - begin prioritization of extra time services for subgroups not meeting target

4 Years Corrective Action – select one or more corrective action options

5 Years Restructuring Plan – select one or more restructuring options

6 Years Restructuring Implementation

For districts that do not meet AYP, specific consequences also result. All districts in the state receive Title I money and are subject to the consequences explained in the following chart:

School Districts

1 Year   No consequences

2 Years Under District Improvement (UDI) and improvement plan required

3 Years Remain Under District Improvement and continue with improvement plan evaluation

4 Years Corrective Action – select one or more NCLB district corrective action options

5 Years Corrective Action – corrective action plan evaluation and modifications

Title I Parental Choice

The Right to Transfer to Another School.

If a Title I school is determined to be “Under School Improvement,” parents can choose to transfer their children to a designated public school that is not “Under School Improvement” within the same district. If parents exercise this choice, the school district must provide transportation up to a specific limit. If transportation costs go above the required amount, low-income low-achieving students are given priority.

Title I Supplemental Services

Additional Educational Opportunities.

If a Title 1 school is “Under School Improvement” and does not meet AYP for an additional year (i.e. a third year of not meeting AYP), low-achieving students from low-income families are eligible to receive additional educational opportunities for instruction. These services are designed to increase the academic performance of students. Supplemental services may include tutoring, remediation and other educational interventions, and must be provided outside of the regular school day. Parents select the provider of the services from the state-approved list.

Your Child’s School

How to Learn More About Your School and District.

School and District Profiles are available for every school district and school. The profiles can be accessed through the Department of Education’s website at www.doe.state.de.us. Printed copies can be requested from the schools and districts. The profiles include the school/district rating, student academic achievement data on the DSTP including data disaggregated by subgroups of students, high school graduation rates, Other Academic Indicator information, professional qualifications of teachers as well as other information about the school or district that is important to you.

The Delaware Department of Education

What Delaware is Doing to Support Schools and Districts.

The Department of Education (DOE) works with schools and districts to provide support based on the needs of the individual school and/or district. Those needs are outlined in the School Improvement Plan and District  improvement Plan. In addition, the state provides additional funds for these schools to help with the actions they decide are necessary in their School Improvement Plans. DOE will also provide help in specific areas as we see several schools or districts that need it.

Parents as Partners

How You Can Help Your Children Succeed.

Parents can help make the accountability system succeed by being involved. Parents play a crucial part in helping  accountability work to improve students’ academic performance. Along with schools, administration, teachers and community partners, parents need to be aware and take part in the education of their children.

Be sure your child is in school every day unless he/she is ill. Check homework. Help as much as you can and encourage students to do their best every day. Answer teacher phone calls and call the school if you have questions or need help. Set high expectations just as our schools and teachers must do. Praise children often and help them establish good learning habits. Help children develop a positive attitude toward learning early on by referring to school as a place where they will learn things that are interesting, important, fun and necessary.

Interact with teachers and talk with them to find out what is happening at school and learn what their children will be doing. Teachers are also available to give advice. They know about child development and they spend a lot of time with children. Parents also should let teachers know about things that may be happening in their children’s lives that may affect schoolwork, such as a divorce or the death of a family member or pet.

Parents are encouraged to find out the many different ways they can volunteer in schools from mentoring individual students to chaperoning events. Volunteering is essential to improving education and is a great way to contribute to a child’s learning.

Above all, become involved with your child’s school and with your child’s education. Learn all you can about your child’s school either from the school profile on the Department of Education website  (ww.doe.state.de.us) or make an appointment to visit with the school principal and learn what you can do to beome part of your child’s educational process. Become a part of a team. Your willingness to help will contribute to a strong system of support for the students and staff of that school. The Delaware Department of Education welcomes your questions. If you want to know more about the Accountability System, the Delaware Student Testing Program or No Child Left Behind, please call 1.877.838-DSTP (3787), or you can reach us on the web at www.doe.state.de.us. For specific questions about your child’s performance on the DSTP, please contact your local school.