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August 4, 2010

JISD meets AYP levels

Nathan Straus Jacksonville Daily Progress

JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville Independent School District received some good national-level news Wednesday; the district met all of its Adequate Yearly Progress requirements benchmarks for the year.

Assistant Superintendent of Instruction and Curriculum Judy Terry said this is the first time in three years the district has done so.

“Title I schools must meet state and federal requirements for reading, math and graduation rates, as well as show we’re testing 95 percent of our students,” Terry said. “This is to keep our federal funds.”

Terry said in past years the school didn’t make its benchmarks because of reading and math scores in the special education subdivision.

“The federal government puts a cap on how many you can test in special education,” she added. “That’s what got the district.”

She said many special education students had passed their exams, but added only a small number actually counted toward Adequate Yearly Progress.

Public Relations Agent Marc McCloud said if a school fails to meet its goal year after year, eventually the federal government will intervene.

“They have different levels depending on how many years in a row you don’t make it,” McCloud said.

Terry said not making AYP two years in a row, as JISD did, results in sanctions at the first stage.

“You must point out why you didn’t make it in the campus plan,” she said. “You also have to undergo staff development.”

She said it takes two consecutive years of meeting AYP to get off the first stage of sanctions.

Terry added if a district sees a fourth consecutive year of not meeting the marks, the U.S. Department of Education may reconstitute the district, adding new administrators in the process.

Though JISD won’t be out of the first stage this coming year, Terry said this is a great step in the right direction.

“We addressed this by looking at the needs of each individual student and testing them where they needed to be tested,” Terry said.

Superintendent Dr. Joe Wardell said he is extremely pleased with the news.

“We were able to meet the federal guidelines this year as well as all the academic achievements we’ve been able to accomplish,” Wardell said. “I am pretty confident with our staff and students in their continued success.

“It’s a good feeling to know you’ve got so many good, competent people in place to let them take the lead.”

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