As usual, the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) school progress reports brought both good news and not-so-good news for the local schools. While leaders of both the Russellville Independent Schools and the Logan County Schools say they are encouraged by gains in many areas, they also realize there is still much work to be done.

Signed into law in 2002, NCLB requires states to provide information on schools' and districts' progress toward proficiency by 2014. Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) is the term used to refer to the minimum improvement required of each school and district over the course of one year. Goals are set in reading and math for various student populations.

School districts have varying numbers of goals to meet, depending on the student population. Kentucky uses data from the Kentucky Core Content Test to provide information concerning the AYP of each school and district.

Russellville Independent Schools

Although the district did not make AYP, achieving 9 of 13 goals, there were improvements in many scores for both Stevenson Elementary School and Russellville Jr./Sr. High School.

“We are pleased with our test scores,” said new superintendent Leon Smith. “We see improvement. Overall, the district saw growth.”

The district did not meet AYP goals in math or reading for the subpopulations of African-American students and low income students. However, Smith said they saw growth in all subpopulations.

Smith said the grades 7-12 scores were very positive in reading and math. The elementary school saw growth in math but a slight drop in reading.

“We’re working to address areas of concern,” Smith said.

Because they are listed as not making AYP, the district is in tier 1 consequences. This simply means that they must inform parents that they can choose to send their students to another district and the district must revise its plan, according to Susan McCloud, associate superintendent.

McCloud said as you look back at the district’s scores there is an overall trend toward improvement and that is what they are looking at.

“We truly feel we’re going in the right direction,” McCloud said.

Smith agreed. “I’m excited by what’s already in place here,” he said, giving credit to those who have been at the district and worked to create the improvements that have already occurred.

Smith, who has been on the job less than a month, said he is very impressed with the work ethic of the teachers, staff and administrators in the district and knows that they are dedicated to doing what is needed to keep improving education for Russellville students.



Logan County Schools

The good news for the Logan County School district this year was that, once again, the district as a whole met all of its 13 goals and was listed as making AYP.

“Overall, we’re pleased,” said superintendent Marshall Kemp. “On the whole, all of our schools are doing what they are supposed to do.”

While all the elementary schools met their goals and were among the top in the region in many areas, Logan County High School feel short in some areas, meeting 7 of 10 goals and not making AYP.

Kemp said they knew they would probably come up a little short at the high school, but they already have programs in place designed to increase scores in math and reading.

“We know we have to address these problems and we have been,” Kemp said.

Associate superintendent Mike Hurt said their goal is to do what is best for the kids so they take this data and try to improve.

“We’re pretty proud of our system,” Hurt added. “We were especially happy with the district score.”

Hurt and Kemp both praised the elementary/middle schools and their scores. All five schools met 100 percent of their goals and were listed as making AYP. Two schools, Auburn and Olmstead, are already over the goal of 100.

“It shows that the teachers, administrators and students are doing what they need to do,” Kemp said.

Statewide

Across the state, 60.2 percent, 696 of Kentucky's 1,157 public schools, made AYP in the 2008-09 school year. In 2007-08, 72.9 percent of schools made AYP. A rise in reading and mathematics goals likely contributed to a lower percentage of schools making AYP in 2008-09 than in 2007-08.

Both Kemp and Smith said they expect the trend of fewer schools making AYP to continue each year as the bar is set higher and higher.

“I think as we go on, more and more schools will not be able to achieve AYP,” Smith said.

“It’s a system which ultimately has really high standards,” said Kemp.

So while both superintendents are pleased with the progress their districts have made so far, they know there is no time to rest. They must keep striving to improve scores as the goals increase each year.

School leaders are also waiting to see how Senate Bill 1 (SB1), enacted in the 2009 session of the Kentucky General Assembly, will change the way students in Kentucky are assessed. SB1 outlines numerous changes to Kentucky’s assessment and accountability program. It created a three-year interim period (2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11) and a new state assessment program beginning in 2012. The interim period allows Kentucky time to develop the new assessment system while maintaining components necessary for federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) reporting.

SB1 suspended the former state assessment and accountability program with its focus on the accountability index and individual growth charts.

For a detailed look at the NCLB reports, visit www.education.ky.gov/KDE.