Jackson Madison County Schools
AYP Press Release
July 28, 2008

Earlier today the state lifted its embargo of the 2007- 2008 Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) data for No Child Left Behind (NCLB). The goal of the No Child Left Behind law is that by 2014 100% of public education students in this country will be proficient or advanced in reading and math. In order to achieve that goal the national benchmarks are raised every two years and 2007-2008 was one of those years. In kindergarten through eighth grade schools 89% of all students had to score proficient or advanced in reading and 86% of all students had to score proficient or advanced in math. For high schools the new benchmark is for 93% of all students to score proficient or advanced in reading and 83% in math.

It is significant to know that if the benchmarks had remained the same as they were in 2006-2007 our district would have met all of those requirements and would be in Good Standing with the state. However, in some schools and with some subgroups of students, we did not achieve the increased benchmarks as a district and are now in Corrective Action as a district.

Only one of our 18 schools serving kindergarten through sixth grade students, South Elementary, missed the new benchmark. At their school, one subgroup (economically disadvantaged) missed the benchmark in math. Jackson Careers and Technology Intermediate School, principal Carolyn Carter, and Andrew Jackson Intermediate School, principal Jerome Maclin, were in that position last year but reached their benchmark with all student subgroups and those two schools are now in Good Standing. We recognize and applaud the hard work and accomplishments of their staff and students. It can be done!

Two of our four middle schools, Tigrett and West, reached their benchmarks and made AYP and two, Rose Hill and Northeast, missed the benchmarks with some subgroups and are on the state list for that reason. The faculty and staff at those schools will be reviewing data to identify specific actions that can be taken for every student.

At our high schools we are proud to report that Madison Academic High School continues to be in good standing with the state. Jackson Central Merry, principal Virginia Crump, was for the second consecutive year successful in having all student subgroups meet the AYP benchmarks but remains on the state list until the graduation rate benchmark is reached. Their current standing is based on the 2006-2007 graduation rate. Liberty did not attain the required graduation rate, and along with South Side and North Side high schools, did not achieve the higher AYP benchmarks in reading.

This year the achievement bar was raised and we are very proud of the hard work of our students, faculty and administration in striving to meet that new goal. Most of our schools were successful in doing so. With the student subgroups who did not meet the new requirements we will find new ways to address their instruction and will help them reach their targets.

One of the programs we are implementing is called Benchmark Testing which allows a teacher to assess the progress of every student on a TCAP-like test every nine weeks district-wide. The teacher will be able to identify the specific standards that the student has mastered and those with which they need additional instruction. Principals, teachers and PARENTS will have immediate access to the results rather than waiting until the end of the year to hear about the TCAP and Gateway test scores. Additionally we have put in place a high school modified block schedule that allows students to have extra time in math, reading and writing instruction and practice. These are just two examples of the actions we are taking as a district. We will also receive support from our State Department of Education. With parents, students, teachers, administrators and the community working together we will be successful in achieving the higher AYP standards across all schools for the upcoming school year.

In summary, 20 of our 27 AYP eligible schools are in Good Standing with the state. Those are Alexander, Arlington, Barker, Beech Bluff, Denmark, Lane, Lincoln, Malesus, North Parkway, Nova, Parkview, Pope and Whitehall elementary schools, Andrew Jackson, JCT, Bemis and East intermediate schools, West and Tigrett middle schools and Madison Academic High School. One school remains on the list based on the 2006-2007 graduation rate. Six schools have subgroups of students who missed the new benchmarks in reading. This may involve only a few students in each of those subgroups. Two schools with similar issues last year successfully met the challenge and those six facing that same challenge this year will do the same. We have an excellent school system, led by talented, hard working administrators, and staffed with passionate and capable teachers and support staff. We work with smart students who have parents who care about their success and who will help us help their children.

Dr. Nancy Zambito
Director of Schools
Jackson Madison County Schools