More schools in area facing sanctions because of MAP test results

Three Title 1 schools in the Cape Girardeau School District and one in Scott City face sanctions after failing to meet proficiency targets on statewide exams.

The results of the Missouri Assessment Program were released earlier this week by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. More schools statewide failed to reach increasing proficiency standards required under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

Of the 16 public school districts in Bollinger, Perry, Scott and Cape Girardeau counties, nine met this year's proficiency standards in math and communication arts. Six Cape Girardeau schools, six Jackson schools and two Scott City schools did not reach proficiency targets.

In Cape Girardeau, Central Middle School failed to make adequate progress for the fourth year in a row, putting it under corrective action sanctions. Statewide, 69 other schools are under corrective action, which requires the district to replace failing staff, institute new curriculum, decrease management authority, appoint an outside expert to advise, extend the school year or provide professional development.

District officials said they do not know yet how they will meet the requirements for corrective action. Principal Mark Kiehne said this level of sanctions is uncharted territory for the district.

"We're finding out as we go just what they mean by corrective action," he said.

Kiehne said the school will increase after-school tutoring, nearly doubling teachers for the program by adding five. He said teachers will be pulling more students, 60 per grade level, from class to give more attention to students who need help in communication arts and math.

"That's the best move I can make as a principal is put the right people in front of the right teacher," he said.

Elsewhere in Cape

Elsewhere in the district, Clippard and Alma Schrader were the only schools to meet proficiency standards. Meanwhile, Jefferson and Franklin elementary schools will receive sanctions because of their Title 1 status. Title 1 schools receive money to aid low-income students and face federal consequences for failing to meet standards. Non-Title 1 schools that do not meet the targets are only required to implement a school improvement plan.

Students at Jefferson met proficiency targets in math but not communication arts. Under the next level of sanctions, the school will have to make supplemental services available such as tutoring.

Students at Franklin did not meet targets in either math or communication arts. Under the first level of sanctions the school is required to offer school choice, allowing students to transfer to another elementary in the district. Jefferson received the same sanction last year and the district offered school choice for all elementary schools.

Overall, students are making improvements even though they are not reaching the increasing targets, said Theresa Hinkebein, district curriculum coordinator.

This year, the target in math was 54.1 percent compared to 45 percent in 2008. The target in communication arts was 59.2 percent compared to 51 percent last year. By 2014, all students are expected to be proficient.

"We're seeing that slow, steady progress that we like to see," Hinkebein said.

She pointed to improvement at Jefferson where black students increased their average score in math to 52.7 percent from 20 percent last year.

This year, the department introduced end-of-course assessments for high school students in English, algebra and biology. Students took a course-specific exam that counted toward their final grade. Previously, students took a math test in 10th grade and a communication arts exam in 11th grade.

Other schools

Statewide, 52.7 percent of students scored proficient or advanced on the algebra exam. Locally, the new test raised concern about lower math scores. In Cape Girardeau, 49 percent of students reached proficiency targets in math in 2008. This year, that figure dropped to 28.1 percent of students.

"We are discouraged [by] those scores and we really need to take a close look," Hinkebein said.

Jackson saw a similar trend as its high school math scores dropped from 58.1 percent to 22.1 percent.

Fisher said she attributes the lower scores to the composition of the district. She said more students took the algebra test at the junior high school where ninth-graders attend. About 85 students were tested at the high school compared to more than 400 the year before.

At the elementary schools, Orchard Drive, Millersville and Gordonville met targets. South Elementary did not meet either math or communication arts targets for the first time. North Elementary did not meet communication arts targets for the first time.

Fisher said students overall made progress. The district will still focus on struggling subgroups like students who qualify for free and reduced-price lunches and special education students with individualized education plans.

"Overall our success is there," she said. "We feel like we're moving in the right direction."

In Scott City, the elementary school did not meet proficiency standards for the third year in a row. As a result, the school will have to offer supplemental services.

Despite missing targets, all subgroups made progress, said Diann Bradshaw-Ulmer. She said the district will focus on special education students and students who qualify for free and reduced-price lunches.

"They're working pretty hard to get there but we still need to differentiate instruction to help those students," she said.

The districted added after-school tutoring for the elementary, which was well-attended, she said. She said she attributes the improvements to curriculum revisions and the new tutoring.

"The proficiency target can be frustrating; however, I want to focus on our kids and I'm glad to see our kids are making improvement," she said.

abusch@semissourian.com

388-3627

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Pertinent address:

301 N. Clark Ave. Cape Girardeau, MO

614 E. Adams St. Jackson, MO

3000 Main St. Scott City, MO