The Michigan Department of Education recently released report cards to Oxford’s elementary, middle and high schools, along with the annual report on each school’s Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for the 2006-07 school year as required by the federal No Child Left Behind Law.
Jim Schwarz, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum for Oxford Schools, said Clear Lake, Daniel Axford and Lakeville elementaries each received an A, Leonard Elementary and Oxford Middle School maintained their B grades from last year and that Oxford Elementary and Oxford High School both dropped to a B and C, respectively. Every school did, however, meet the AYP.
According to the Michigan Dept. of Education’s website, AYP is a state measurement of student achievement, governed and approved by the U.S. Department of Education.
Schwarz said the language arts and math portions of the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) test results, curriculum, teacher quality, professional development, parent involvement, drop-out rates, school facilities and the state average play a large role in how a school is graded.
Although some of the schools dropped to B’s or C’s, Schwarz said it’s important to note that these grades are not based on your typical classroom grading scale.
No matter if a school drops or increases one percent or 10 in a certain subject, the state automatically sanctions a lower or higher grade.
For instance, OES had MEAP reading scores of 94 last year and dropped to 91 this year, therefore dropping them from an A to a B.
‘You can look at Pontiac schools who can go from a 14 percent (proficiency) to an 18 percent and get an A,? he said. ‘Statistically, it makes us all crazy.?
According to Schwarz, 489 high schools in the state of Michigan did not meet AYP, as opposed to the 399 last year.
This is an upward trend he said people shouldn’t be surprised to see continue climbing. ‘When we get to 2014, which is the magical year all school subjects are supposed to be at 100 percent proficiency ? it’s impossible,? he said. ‘We’re dealing with kids, not machined products.?
Unless the next presidential election sparks some change in the No Child Left Behind act, Schwarz said all schools will continue to ‘fall by the wayside? when it comes to meeting AYP standards.
‘We do hold the report cards as an important factor because we look at it as a vehicle for school improvement,? he said. ‘We do understand the statistical biases that are involved with (the grades), though.?