Request your student's MAP scores

I concur 100% with concerns about drawing too many conclusions from WASL results. The 10th grade WASL is (was) actually 7th grade content bundled into poorly worded and obtuse problems and sold to the public as "higher order thinking". Further, making any meaningful student-focused improvements based on WASL scores is impossible, because by the time scores are tabulated, guess what? It's next year and we're in the next grade. Movin' on....

Enter MAP. Measures of Academic Progress. North Beach was among a subset of schools that piloted this assessment last year. This year, it is being rolled out across the entire district. It is given 3 times per year, and our students are just finishing the first test cycle about now (depending on your classroom). For more information on the test, you can read over the NWEA (Northwest Evaluation Assosication) website on MAP at:
http://www.nwea.org/products-services/computer-based-adaptive-assessments/map

MAP includes built-in reporting tools, that make it as easy as a few clicks to generate detailed reports for each student. However, Seattle as a district is still working out how to release this information, how to train staff to interpret it, etc. Some parents have seen their students' scores, and others have met with resistance when they requested them. I would strongly encourage all parents to ask for their students' results following each assessment cycle. The test is administered by computer, so they are scored instantly once the test is complete.

There is a great post on the SaveSeattleSchools blog about MAP, including links to district resources describing the assessment rollout. One important point of information included inthe district powerpoint slides is that they intend to offer training for teachers to allow discussion of MAP results at parent/teacher conferences in November. See it here: http://saveseattleschools.blogspot.com/2009/08/map-101.html

In the event that you experience some resistance from at the school or district level, be aware of your rights as a parent. The law is on your side regarding release of student records to parents. Don't hesitate to reference RCW 28A.605.030 (Student education records — Parental review — Release of records — Procedure). The full text is at http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=28A.605.030. The first line of the RCW states the guidelines clearly:

"The parent or guardian of a student who is or has been in attendance at a school has the right to review all education records of the student. "

In a future post, we'll demystify the MAP scoring results for parents.

-Rick

Transparency and Anonymous Posts

When we started this blog, we made the decision to allow anonymous postings, based in the reality that not everyone has a Blogger or Gmail account. No account = no posting of comments. However, if you aren't willing to put your name on a comment, then you shouldn't be posting it.

We fully expect, and invite the NBE staff, building administration, and even Seattle School District central staff to read, and to comment - that's what this blogging stuff is all about and that's a good thing.

If this turns from sharing information to anonymous personal attacks, then we'll change the user settings to require identification, or remove offending posts.

-Rick

Let us know if you would like to start a NEW posting

All,

This blog is set up to only allow posting threads to originate from pre-defined Blogger.com users. If you are registered on Blogger.com, (do you have a gmail account?), send us an e-mail and we can add you to the list so you can start a new thread. We're also happy to post on behalf of others if you don't want to hassle with the Blogger account. Just e-mail us your text and we can post it. Also, feel free to call if you want to gab.... (206) 783-7644

Rick & Linh-Co

Declining WASL Performance

Academic Achievement of North Beach Elementary
From 2001 – Present Day

The North Beach community has always valued academic excellence. The administration, staff, and students have built this reputation using a high-performing model of effective programs, consistent classroom practices, and early intervention and remediation for struggling learners.

Many families have selected North Beach based on the programs and history of achievement. In the 2003-04, 2004-05, and 2006-07 school years, North Beach ranked among the top 4 performing schools in the district based on reading, math, and writing scores. However, the recent two years of performance of the school on the WASL highlights an alarming trend. North Beach has seen a significant drop in student achievement scores and has dropped to last place in comparison to schools with similar demographics While the district and state have been making continual but gradual gains in the percent of students meeting academic standards, North Beach has been slipping. Table 1 below summarizes the percent of 4th grade students meeting academic standards at NBE and for the district. 4th grade is the benchmark grade for WASL in elementary school.

Key Findings:

• Reading is the highest scoring subject for NBE 4th grade students, yet North Beach is only 6% above district average.
• In the last 2 years, NBE reading scores have dropped over 10% relative to the district average.Mathematics, once the claim to fame for North Beach, has experienced a precipitous drop in the last 2 years of nearly 20%.
• Writing scores show some promise in the most current year testing results, but still represent a 9-year low when compared with the district average.
  
  Table 1 – 4th Grade WASL Scores for North Beach, Seattle District, and the Difference

Click table to view larger image

While an assessment should not be used as an absolute judge of success or failure, the continuity of a standardized test like the WASL provides a valuable tool to benchmark progress. It is important to consider the performance trend of an individual school, but also critical to monitor demographics and ensure that comparable peer schools are used for analysis. Table 2 below lists the 21 schools in Seattle with a free/reduced lunch population equal to or less than 20%. The key concern shown by these data is that while North Beach is nominally centered in the socio-economic group with a 10% free/reduced lunch population, it is outperformed in all three subject areas by 15 schools, and in two of the three subject areas by 5 schools (shown in bold). Of 21 non-disadvantaged schools, North Beach ranks last.

Key Findings:
- Of 21 schools, North Beach has the lowest reading score
- In math, NBE ranks 19th
- For writing, NBE is 16th

Table 2 – 4th Grade WASL Scores and Demographics for all Seattle Schools (21 total) with 20% or Less Free and Reduced Lunch Population

Click table to view larger image

Getting Back on Track

While elementary school is the first leg of a child’s educational journey, it is often identified as the most critical. The building blocks put in place in the K-5 grades form the basis for all future schooling, including content knowledge and application, attitudes towards learning, and study habits to name a few. Students not meeting academic standards in one or more subjects in 4th grade are at a significantly higher risk of not passing in 7th and 10th grade as well, and are more likely to drop out of high school.

The formula for academic success, especially in elementary school, is not a great mystery. The key challenge is to keep focused on, and implement the shared vision for, student excellence. There are many opinions ranging across the educational spectrum, but critical review of research around successful schools reveal a set of common characteristics that schools should strive for.

Successful school characteristics include:

• Empirically proven research-based curricula and teaching methods
• Comprehensive use of the state academic standards as goals for student learning, guideposts for teaching, and tools for professional development
• Use of frequent assessment as a diagnostic tool for identifying strengths and weaknesses and improving performance
• Standards-based professional development that emphasizes subject matter
• Strong and consistent discipline policies that emphasize sanctions and rewards
• Increased flexibility to use available funding and a reduction in bureaucratic rules

Excerpted from “They Have Overcome”, US Department of Education website

It is a critical time for transparency and accountability at North Beach. Everybody needs to recognize that we have a problem, and agree on the solutions and timeframe to resolve that problem. Leadership is considered to be one of the most valuable components of any institution or organization and needs to maintain focus on a shared goal. The teachers represent the heart, the engine of North Beach, and must be provided with the tools, time, and oversight to be successful. The parent community has to be supportive, and in return deserves honest and regular communications from the school. Finally, the students need to recognize that their education is both a privilege and their number one priority.

Please take this information to heart. Collectively, we can do better and the kids deserve no less.

Rick Burke & Linh-Co Nguyen