Tucson Unified School District Website: http://www.tusd.k12.az.us/
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Tucson Unified School District Website: http://www.tusd.k12.az.us/ |
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Tucson Unified School District 1010 E. Tenth Street Tucson, AZ 85719 520-225-6290 August 1, 2011 Dear Tucson Unified School District Parent: The purpose of this letter is to inform you that Tucson Unified School District has beenidentified for Title I LEA (Local Education Agency) Improvement. The reason for thisidentification is that, under the Federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) and the state’s accountability system, our LEA did not meet “adequate yearly progress” (AYP) for two consecutive years in the same indicator and across all grade-spans.AYP is a measure that all states use to determine if schools and districts are meeting the high expectations described in NCLB. The goal, under this system, is that 100% of our students will meet or exceed the Arizona Academic Standards by the 2013-2014 school year. In order to meet that goal, schools and districts must meet certain objectives each year. Recently, we received a report on AYP for all schools and districts in Arizona. The report reviews each indicator and gives a simple yes or no grade, based on the percent of students that are meeting or exceeding the Arizona Academic Standards on the AIMS test. In addition, schools and LEA’s must meet the additional indicators of percent tested, and either an attendance rate or graduation rate percentage. The first table below shows the AYP determination that our LEA received. The second table provides a comparison of students’ reading and math proficiency levels in our LEA and in the State as required by NCLB.
A similar determination was made for all schools within Tucson Unified School District. Oncethe schools’ AYP determinations were calculated, all of the data was then combined to determinethe LEA’s AYP. The LEA’s AYP determination includes students that moved from one schoolto another within the LEA, whereas the school determination does not include these mobilestudents.Another item to mention is that the data is calculated for all students as well as subgroups ofstudents (i.e., racial and ethnic groups, English language learners, students with disabilities, andeconomically disadvantaged students). If one of these groups does not meet an indicator acrossall grade spans, then the LEA will not have made AYP. (NOTE: Only groups larger than 40 arecounted.)You, as a parent, are a very important part of the educational process. In addition to theassistance and nurturing you give to your child, you can participate in upgrading the quality ofeducation within Tucson Unified School District. Your efforts will help your child’s school andLEA to make AYP. You may want to get involved by: • Reviewing your child’s homework and test results;• Supporting and reinforcing your child’s good study habits;• Becoming a member of your school’s site council;• Attending board meetings and giving input at appropriate times;• Serving on a school or LEA committee; and• Coming to parent-school meetings on student achievement; For more information about AYP, please see the attached Frequently Asked Questions page.Additional information may be obtained by visiting ADE’s website at http://www.ade.az.gov andclicking on No Child Left Behind. You can also call our district office, at 520-225-6290, to findout how we are addressing AYP concerns, and to inquire as to how you can become involved toincrease academic achievement at each of our schools.Most sincerely, John Pedicone, Ph.D., Superintendent Tucson Unified School District FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 1. What is the No Child Left Behind Act?The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) is areauthorization of the Elementary and SecondaryEducation Act (ESEA) and was signed into law byPresident Bush on Jan. 8, 2002. NCLB is the centralfederal law for elementary and secondary education.The ESEA, which was first enacted in 1965,encompasses Title I, the federal government'sprimary aid program for disadvantaged students. 2. What is Adequate Yearly Progress? Adequate yearly progress (AYP) is the measure bywhich schools, districts, and states are heldaccountable for student performance under Title I ofthe No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB).Here is how AYP works. NCLB requires states to use a single accountability system for all public schools to determine whether students as a whole, as well as subgroups of students (i.e., racial and ethnic groups, English language learners, students with disabilities, and economically disadvantaged students) are making progress toward meeting state academic standards. The law also requires that all students reach a “proficient” level of achievement, as measured by their performance on state tests, by the spring of 2014. In Arizona, students that meet or exceed the standards on the AIMS test are considered “proficient.” Along the way, schools, districts, and states must demonstrate that all of their students are making continuous and consistent progress toward meeting that goal in public elementary and secondary schools (not just those schools receiving Title I funds). This interim progress is what is known as adequate yearly progress (AYP) toward the goal of all students reaching academic standards. According to the law, states have the flexibility to define this yearly progress, but it must include the following elements: Met Percent Tested? To make AYP, at least 95percent of students in each of the four sub groups, as well as 95 percent of students in schools and districts as a whole, must take the AIMS test. Met Test Objectives? To make AYP, the percent of students as a whole, as well as in each of the four subgroups, must meet or exceed the annual measurable objectives set for that year foreach subject and grade. Met Attendance Rate? To make AYP, districtsand elementary schools must have an attendancerate of at least 90% over the first 100 days of theacademic year or make at least a 1% gain fromthe previous year. Met Graduation Rate? To make AYP, districtsand high schools must have a four-yeargraduation rate of 80% and above or make atleast a 2% gain from the previous year. 3. What is District (LEA) Improvement? LEA Improvement is an identification given to aTitle I LEA if they fail to make AYP for twoconsecutive years in the same indicator and across allgrade spans. Please note: the assessed subjects aremathematics and reading. Each subject is assessedseparately; however, each subject requirementincludes meeting the required percent tested in thesubject and meeting the subject AMO. Failing tomeet either percent tested or AMO within a subjectresults in the subject indicator not being met.NCLB specifies a number of consequences for thosedistricts that are identified for improvement. Thefirst step is to notify parents of students who attend aschool in a district in need of improvement andprovide assistance to the district identified.Additional sanctions are added if a district identifiedfor improvement continues to fail to make AYP forseveral years. |
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