Annual Report

on

Curriculum, Instruction,

and

Student Achievement

2006-2007

Dawson-Boyd Public Schools

Independent School District

#378

The purpose of the Dawson-Boyd Visions Team is to create an environment that centers on the learner and promotes lifelong learning in order to enhance achievement.  To accomplish this, we will create, plan, organize, support, and facilitate a school improvement plan.  We will access, prioritize and focus, plan, facilitate/implement, and evaluate staff development inservice for classroom teachers.  We will communicate our efforts to the students, staff, parents, and community.

This report was prepared by Keri Bergeson, High School Principal

and Val Tuff, Elementary Principal, for the purpose of informing the public.

Advisory Committee Members - Visions Team

The “Visions” Team, (a group of students, parents, community members, teachers, and administrators) has been charged with the responsibility of planning and implementing the staff development activities, which will increase student performance within this results-oriented education.  Its mission statement states:

The purpose of the Dawson-Boyd Visions Team is to create an environment that centers on the learner and promotes lifelong learning in order to enhance achievement.  To accomplish this, we will create, plan, organize, support, and facilitate a school improvement plan.  We will access, prioritize and focus, plan, facilitate/implement, and evaluate staff development inservice for classroom teachers.  We will communicate our efforts to the students, staff, parents and community. 

Advisory Committee Members - Visions Team

            Community Members                       New members each year, 2 year term.

            Student Members                             New Jr.class member each year, 2 year term      

            School Board Member                     Appointed by the School Board.

            Administrators                                   Continuing members.

            Teachers                                            H.S. & 3 Elem. teachers, spaced 3 year terms    

Members of the Visions Team for the 2006-2007 School year are as follows:

Brad Madsen, Superintendent K-12                                                  

Keri Bergeson, High School Principal 7-12                                       

Val Tuff, Elementary Principal PreK-6

Mary Olson, Title I Coordinator                                                          

Sharon Vick, MRVED Representative Elementary

(Minnesota River Valley Education District), Grade 1

Carole Femrite, Grade 1 Teacher

Catalina Worden, MRVED Representative, High School

            (Minnesota River Valley Education District), Spanish

Greg Wyum, 7-12 Science Teacher

Phil Lienemann, 7-12 English Teacher

Rhonda Krosh, Special Education High School

Kendall Stelter, School Board Member

Carol Strand, Senior Citizen

Stephanie Weber, Paraprofessional

Jeannette Strand, Parent

Melanie Knutson, 12^th Grade Student

Amy Banken, 12^th Grade Student

Carol Strand, Senior Citizen

Becky Thoen, Grade 6 Teacher

Brandon Moore, 7-12 Social Studies

Mary Walsh Grade 4 Teacher

Method of Selection

Community members, students, and teachers are volunteers. The School Board appoints a representative yearly.  Administrators are continuous members.

Biennial Evaluation of District Testing Program

Evaluation of the district-testing program was held during 2006-2007. The group responsible for evaluating the testing program was the Visions Team. In addition to statewide testing, the school district continued the NWEA testing program. The team examined and approved the testing procedures and results in the Annual Report on Curriculum, Testing and Student Performance.  Across the year, testing methods and results were presented to the team. The Visions Team has determined the testing program meets the needs of students and satisfies the state graduation rule.

NWEA tests are given to students in grades 2 through 10 in the fall of the year and grades 1 through 10 in the spring of the year. MCA II’s were given to students in grades 3 through 11 as required by the state of Minnesota .

The test results are used with staff and the Visions to help guide curriculum and instruction. Provide teachers, students, and parents with an accurate assessment of student progress in mastering the basic skills. When administered at regular intervals over time it is possible to find out whether an individual student or an entire grade level is making satisfactory progress in these basic skills areas. Teachers can use this assessment information for instructional planning for all individual students or an entire class to improve curriculum and instruction.

Any student that does not pass the basic skills testing has the opportunity to attend summer remediation programs. They may then re-test in the summer or the following spring.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS   

Jr Hi requirements:

Students in grades 7&8 must make satisfactory academic progress in order to pass.  Students who fail 2 or more classes may be retained in that grade.  At the end of the third quarter 7^th, 8^th, and 9^th grade teachers will submit student names for consideration for retention of grade.  The student, their parents, their teachers, and a building administrator will meet to determine if retention is the best solution for meeting the students needs.  Reasons for retention could include lack of an adequate number of days of attendance or instruction, low skill development, inadequate preparation for the basic standards tests, or students demonstrating a lack of ownership in their education process showing little responsibility and personal accountability.

Because of changes made to graduation requirements and No Child Left Behind, the Dawson-Boyd School District is in transition.  Please see the following paragraphs as well as the Graduation Requirements Chart (see Appendix A at the end of the handbook).

Students in grade 12 (Class of 2008) must earn a MINIMUM of 24 credits to graduate. Students in grades 7-11 will need to meet the following credit and class requirements.

Dawson-Boyd will be requiring 24 credits to graduate for the classes of 2008 (this years 12th graders) and 2009 (this years 11th graders).  The classes of 2010 (grade 9 and beyond) will be required to earn 26 credits to earn a DBHS diploma.

Students will start accumulating credits when they successfully pass classes during their 9^th grade year.

Under NCLB, DBHS students will be required to accumulate the following credits at Dawson-Boyd HS:

Students will start accumulating credits when they successfully pass classes during their 9^th grade year.

·        Under NCLB, DBHS students will be required to accumulate the following credits:

o       4 credits of English

o       3 credits of math, which encompass algebra, geometry, probability, and statistics.

o       3 credits of science.  One of these credits must be in biology.

o       4 credits of social which include at least one credit of US history, 1 credit of Geography, .5 credit of Government and Citizenship, .5 credit of world history, and .5 credit of economics.

o       1 credit of Health and 1 credit of Physical Education

o       1 credit of art

o       All other credits are elective.

This is the current transition plan, however, DBHS reserves the right to change the requirements as needed to accommodate state/federal laws or school board action.  If there are changes to this current plan, students and parents will be given ample notice to make sure that their son/daughter would have the opportunity to successfully graduate.

TESTING:  Along with passing the required classes/credits as mentioned above, students are also required to complete the following high stakes testing to earn a diploma:

·        Current 11^th and 12th grade must successfully pass the 8^th Grade Basic Standard Test for Reading and Math as well as the 10^th Grade Basic Standard Test for Written Composition.

·        The class of 2010 and beyond must pass the following state tests in order to earn a DBHS diploma:  Grade 9 writing, Grade 10 reading; Grade 11 Math.

·        The state of Minnesota has developed new standards that school districts are required to implement in their schools.  As parents, you may be hearing your child talk about Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA’s) that they are required to take.  The state of Minnesota will eventually have tests at almost every grade level to assess the academic progress of your child.  Dawson-Boyd School District is required each year to show improvement from the previous year.  If we do not show improvement, we will be placed on an “Annual Yearly Progress” list. 

Local Assessment Data Results

BST Information  

9^th Graders

Writing:                Passed:       43 of 45

                             Failed:         2 of 45                           

                             Pass Ind :     0

                             Exempt:      0

10^th Graders

Reading :               Passed:       1 of 6

                             Failed:         5 of 6

                             Pass Ind :     1                

                             Exempt:      0

Math:                    Passed:       0 of 4

                             Failed:         4 of 4

                             Pass Ind :     0

                             Exempt:      0

Written:                Passed:       45 of 46

                             Failed:         1 of 46

                             Pass Ind :     0

                             Exempt:      0

11th Grade:

Reading :               Passed:       0 re-took in 07

                             Failed:         0 re-took in 07

                             Pass Ind :     0

                             Exempt:      1                

11^th Grade Math for BST continued:

Math:                    Passed:       0 of 1

                             Failed:         1 of 1

                             Pass Ind :    

Exempt:      1                

Written:                Passed:       2 of 3

                             Failed:         1 of 3

                             Pass Ind :     1                                                       

Exempt:      0

Minnesota Comprehensive Test Results

Results from Spring 2007 will be communicated to parents and the public after release. Information may be obtained through the district office and will also be posted on the Dawson-Boyd Public School web site.  

We are including in this report the MCA test results from past years. This information will provide base-line data for the Dawson-Boyd School District .  Student scores were reported in five different achievement levels.  The criteria for each level is as follows:     

Level I:            Student does not meet standards.

Level II :          Partially meets standards.

Level Ill :           Meets standards.

Level IV:         Exceeds standards.

MCA results are based on students enrolled in the district by October 1^st of the fall prior to spring testing. MCA scoring has changed during the 2006-07 school year.  The scoring has changed from 5 levels to our current 4 level system listed above.  In the past, all grade level scale scores were based on a pass rate of 1420.  The scoring system has changed to the following format.  The grade level number is listed first followed by a two digit proficiency score.  Consider the following example: If a student is in third grade, a 3 would be the first number of the score.  The next two digits will determine if the student is meeting or not meeting state standards.  Any score of 50-99 is considered to meet standards. Any score from 0- 49 would not meet the standard.  Therefore a third grade student with a score of 351 would be meeting grade level standards and a student with a score of 341 would not be meeting grade level standards.

Mathematics 2007

Achievement Level               Level I             Level II            Level IIl            Level lV                     

Percent of Students              3.4%               10.3%             62.1%             24.1%                  

Number of Students              1                      3                      18                    7

Mean Scale Score:  358.6

Reading 2007

Achievement Level               Level I             Level II            Level IIl            Level lV                     

Percent of Students              11.1%             11.1%             25.9%             51.9%                  

Number of Students              3                      3                      7                      14                         

Mean Scale Score:  361.5

Mathematics 2005

Achievement Level               Level I             Level II            Level IIl            Level lV          Level V          

Percent of Students                 8%                   13%                10%                58%                13%

Number of Students                 3                        5                      4                      23                    5

Mean Scale Score:  1531.2

Reading 2005

Achievement Level               Level 1            Level II            Level IIl            Level IV          Level V

Percent of Students                  8%                  18%                8%                  33%                35%               

Number of Students                   3                      7                      3                      13                    14

Mean Scale Score:   1576.8

Mathematics 2004

Achievement Level               Level I             Level II            Level IIl            Level lV          Level V          

Percent of Students                   3%                  17%                3%                  59%                17%

Number of Students                   1                       5                     1                      17                     5

Mean Scale Score:  1563.8

Reading 2004

Achievement Level               Level I             Level II            Level IIl            Level IV          Level V

Percent of Students                  7%                   14%                7%                  41%                31%

Number of Students                  2                       5                      2                      12                    9

Mean Scale Score:  1568.8  

Mathematics 2003

Achievement Level               Level I             Level II            Level IIl            Level lV          Level V          

Percent of Students                   3%                  11%                21%                53%                13%

Number of Students                   1                       4                     8                      20                     5

Mean Scale Score:  1547.3

Reading 2003

Achievement Level               Level I             Level II            Level IIl            Level IV          Level V

Percent of Students                  8%                   3%                 18%                 53%                18%

Number of Students                  3                       1                      7                      20                    7

Mean Scale Score:  1537.0 

Mathematics 2007

Achievement Level               Level I             Level II            Level IIl            Level lV                     

Percent of Students              7.3%               17.1%             41.5%             34.1%                  

Number of Students              3                      7                      17                    14

Mean Scale Score:  456.6

Reading 2007

Achievement Level               Level I             Level II            Level IIl            Level lV                     

Percent of Students              7.3%               19.5%             31.7%             41.5%                  

Number of Students              3                      8                      13                    17

Mean Scale Score:  459

Mathematics 2007

Achievement Level               Level I             Level II            Level IIl            Level lV                     

Percent of Students              12.8%             25.6%             43.6%             17.9%                  

Number of Students              5                      10                    17                    7

Mean Scale Score:  551.5

Reading 2007

Achievement Level               Level I             Level II            Level IIl            Level lV                     

Percent of Students              5.1%               12.8%             48.7%             33.3%                  

Number of Students              2                      5                      19                    13

Mean Scale Score:  559.6

Mathematics 2005

Achievement Level               Level I             Level II            Level IIl            Level IV          Level V

Percent of Students                   3%                  3%                 8%                  55%                 28%             

Number of Students                   1                      1                      3                      28                    6    

Mean Scale Score:  1582.0

Reading 2005

Achievement Level               Level I             Level II            Level IIl            Level IV          Level V

Percent of Students                   5%                  5%                 3%                   38%                50%

Number of Students                   2                      2                      1                      15                    20

Mean Scale Score:  1636.4

Writing 2005

Achievement Level               Level I             Level II            Level Ill             Level IV          Level V

Percent of Students                 3%                    10%                5%                  55%                28%

Number of Students                 1                        4                      2                      22                    11

Mathematics 2004

Achievement Level               Level I             Level II            Level IIl            Level IV          Level V

Percent of Students                   0%                  15%                8%                 58%                 20%             

Number of Students                   0                      6                      3                      23                    8    

Mean Scale Score:  1584.8

Reading 2004

Achievement Level               Level I             Level II            Level IIl            Level IV          Level V

Percent of Students                   3%                  10%                8%                  48%                33%

Number of Students                   1                      4                      3                      19                    13

Mean Scale Score:  1620.8

Writing 2004

Achievement Level               Level I             Level II            Level Ill             Level IV          Level V

Percent of Students                 3%                    13%                5%                  50%                30%

Number of Students                 1                        5                      2                      20                    12

Mathematics 2003

Achievement Level               Level I             Level II            Level IIl            Level IV          Level V

Percent of Students                   0%                  17%                17%                59%                7%   

Number of Students                   0                      7                      7                      24                    3    

Mean Scale Score:  1547.9

Reading 2003

Achievement Level               Level I             Level II            Level IIl            Level IV          Level V

Percent of Students                   2%                  7%                  15%                49%                27%

Number of Students                   1                      3                      6                      20                    11

Mean Scale Score:  1590.2

Writing 2003

Achievement Level               Level I             Level II            Level Ill             Level IV          Level V

Percent of Students                 5%                    24%                5%                  54%                12%

Number of Students                 2    &