8/19/04

Press Release

More OKC Schools Make Adequate Yearly Progress Despite Increased Performance Target

After close review, the Superintendent of Oklahoma City Public Schools, Bob Moore, announced today that the district had 45 of its schools and charter schools achieve Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). That is an increase of eight schools over last year.

“Our teachers and students worked very hard last year to increase student academic performance across the district. After reviewing our 5th and 8th grade student test scores and studying the district’s Academic Performance Index (API) and Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) results, we see more evidence of positive academic gains,” said Moore.

This year, 60 percent of the district’s elementary schools achieved AYP as opposed to 52 percent in 2003. Of the district’s middle schools, the percentage achieving AYP this year was 56 percent versus 20 percent in 2003.

Initially, it appears the district may have as many as 14 elementary schools, 4 middle schools and 2 charter schools on the School Improvement list; however, closer analysis shows that 6 of those schools that were on the list last year did achieve AYP.

Schools on the improvement list must make AYP for two consecutive years before state requirements allow for them to be removed.

Of significance, three of the six schools that were on the School Improvement list last year were in their fourth year of that designation meaning they were facing major consequences regarding changes in school governance.

Schools may meet their AYP as a whole, but if one or more student groups do not, the school could go on the required School Improvement list. Student groups include male, female, Black. American Indian, Hispanic, Asian, White, economically disadvantaged, migrant, English language learners and special education students.

The Academic Performance Index is the Oklahoma State Department of Education’s method of determining Adequate Yearly Progress as stipulated in No Child Left Behind (NCLB). To meet future NCLB requirements, significant gains in API were necessary to make AYP this year. API targets for 2004 increased from 648 in 2003 to 790 in math and from 622 in 2003 to 768 in reading.

“It was evident to this community and the school district that our instructional staff had many academic challenges to meet when it came to providing quality education to our children. That is the basis of MAPS for Kids and the expectations set forth by the community. We made a number of strategic, academic changes last year and those changes laid the foundation for meeting the goals of this community, the state and NCLB when it comes to the educational needs of every child in this district,” said Moore.

Teachers focusing on the individual needs of their students is the primary reason the district had so many schools achieve AYP this year. One strategy that supported the teachers in this endeavor was to lower the teacher pupil ratios from 1:25 to 1:22 at the elementary schools last year that did not meet AYP the previous year. That same strategy will be continued this year.

Another district strategy being implemented this year that will have a positive and direct impact on academic achievement is the reduction of class sizes at the elementary level by eliminating 44 combination classes. Previously, the district had been forced to combine grade levels in elementary classrooms due to budgetary constraints.

Additional proven research strategies implemented last year, such as the division of the District into six feeder patterns, the utilization of instructional facilitators in some of our lowest performing schools and participation in the Organizational Health Instrument and High Performance Model have contributed to the District’s success in enhancing instructional methods that led to the gains in test scores and AYP.

This district will build upon those strategies this year by adding instructional facilitators at more of our lower performing schools giving special attention to those on the School Improvement list, expanding the Organizational Health Instrument to support areas of the district such as the Central Office and continuing to work with the High Performance Model and Quality Tools programs to further enhance teaching and learning and school support systems. All efforts are aimed at providing more support to classrooms and utilizing limited resources as efficiently and effectively as possible.

The district is committed to meeting the NCLB mandates for schools on the improvement list. For those on the School Improvement list for the first or second year, a School Improvement plan must be accomplished, 10 percent of their Title I budget must be designated for professional development and they must offer transfer choices to parents and students. In the fourth year of designation, schools are deemed in need of “corrective action” and must provide school transfer or supplemental learning services and begin developing a restructuring plan and continue to designate 10 percent of their Title I budget to professional development. If AYP is not achieved for a fifth consecutive year, a district must then undertake major reorganization changes and fundamental reforms.

“The academic progress the district has made over the past year is a strong indicator that we are headed in the right direction and, most importantly, proves that all children can achieve academically regardless of their ethnicity, family income or zip code. Every child deserves to receive a high-quality education that will help prepare them for any path in life they choose and this district is highly committed to that obligation,” commented Moore.

-Return to Main News Page-