Commissioner's Newsletters
May 29, 2008
Dear School Administrator:
The legislative session has ended. Commencement ceremonies are concluding in school districts across the state. Summer is just around the corner, and this is a very busy time for all of us. Here are a few very important items for your information and use.
Tentative Schedule for Releasing 2008 MAP, AYP & APR Data
DESE staff are making plans now for the release of 2008 MAP test results, adequate yearly progress (AYP) determinations and Annual Performance Reports (APRs). This year, we will be able to release MAP results sooner, and because of insistence by federal officials we must release the AYP status of all schools earlier than we have in the past. As a result, this year’s timetable is quite different than it has been in recent years. It may have implications for you and your staff as you plan summer schedules. Here is our tentative schedule for releasing data:
| June 16 - July 1 | Demographic data cleanup. This includes information in the demographic file from CTB and April student Core Data. PLEASE NOTE: This is the only time period that school districts will have this year to correct demographic data. There will no longer be a “window” for demographic data cleanup after preliminary AYP or APR results have been released. |
| July 1 - July 10 | Review and update attendance and graduation rate data for AYP and APR purposes. |
| July 21 - 25 | Tentative AYP results MAP data and LND released to school districts for review on the secure Web site. |
| July 28 | MAP achievement level data for communications arts and math released to school districts on secure Web site. |
| July 31 | Preliminary AYP results released to public. District/School Improvement notification letters sent to districts and schools. |
| August 1 - 29 | Preliminary AYP appeals window. |
| September 12 | Final AYP results and School/District Improvement status released. |
| July 21 - Aug. 29 | Appeals window for MAP (CTB) and MAP-A (ARC) scores. |
| October 3 | Preliminary APRs released on secure Web site. |
| October 3 - 31 | Window for APR corrections. |
| November 17 | Final APRs released. |
I want to emphasize that this schedule is dictated largely by federal requirements for early notification of the AYP status of all schools. In addition, our staff will be dealing with a new batch of MAP science exam results and the field-test results from the new end-of-course exams. We also will have our hands full this summer as we process this data.
If you have questions about this schedule, please contact our Accountability Data and Accreditation office at 573-526-4886.
Summer Conference for School Administrators
Registration is now open (online) for the Department’s 47th annual Cooperative Conference for School Administrators, which will be held August 3-5 at Tan-Tar-A. I hope you are making plans to attend or will make sure that your district is represented at this important meeting.
I think you will find the conference program to be timely and practical this year. Major topics include: end-of-course exams and accountability; autism; dropout prevention; MOSIS; programs of study and career clusters; and updates on school finance and new legislation.
You may view an outline of the conference agenda and register online on the DESE Web site. We look forward to seeing you at this year’s conference.
Tornado Safety & Preparedness
Enclosed is a DVD on tornado preparedness. The video features a presentation by Mrs. Joy Tucker, superintendent of the St. James School District, and Dr. Nick Thiele, superintendent of the Caruthersville School District, to the Missouri Homeland Security Safe Schools Working Group. Mrs. Tucker and Dr. Thiele describe the events surrounding the tornado experiences in their school districts during 2006. The information presented and the images captured by school security cameras during these storms should be helpful to you and your staff in improving your tornado preparedness.
You MAY duplicate this DVD freely to share with other members of your staff. The DVD production was funded by the State Emergency Management Agency. The Missouri Center for Safe Schools coordinated the project in collaboration with SEMA, the Department of Mental Health and DESE. For more information about school tornado preparedness go to Center for Safe Schools or one of the other resources provided in the video.
Project ACCESS: A Resource on Autism
Project ACCESS, a project funded by DESE’s Division of Special Education through Missouri State University, can help your district meet the needs of children with autism.
Project ACCESS designs autism-specific professional development opportunities and trains credentialed individuals to present these courses through the Regional Professional Development Centers (RPDCs). These trainings are offered to Missouri school district staff and educators who work with youngsters (birth to 21) who experience autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and related disabilities. On-site, child-specific consultations can be arranged through the use of Missouri Autism Consultants (MACs). District staff can be trained to be in-district autism consultants.
For on-site consultation requests, resource training materials, Project ACCESS training opportunities and Applied Behavior Analysts inquiries, contact Joanie Armstrong. Call toll-free 1-866-481-3841.
For general information about Project ACCESS, training opportunities, etc., please direct your questions to Tina Neal-Wait or use the toll-free number.
More information about Project Access, including a list of available trainings, also is available online.
Missouri Is Recognized for High Standards
Education Next, a journal published by the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, recently (May 12) published a new “report card” on state education standards, based on 2007 results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and each state’s test scores.
The report gave A’s to just three states for establishing world-class standards in math and reading: South Carolina, Massachusetts and Missouri. You may read a summary of the report for yourself.
We are happy to accept the recognition and the compliment.
I hope you have a great summer.
Sincerely,
D. Kent King