The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) recently released the 2013-14 accountability scorecards for schools - a color-coded method of measuring district and individual school performance on state assessments. As a district, Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Lakers remained at a yellow rating for a second year, as did Laker Elementary. However, Laker Junior High and High School received a lime rating this year – one step higher than the yellow rating the schools received last year.
According to an MDE release, about 47 percent of schools statewide received a yellow rating, while 30 percent of schools received a lime rating. Color ratings are determined by points accumulated for goals met, or by demonstrating improvement. The goals are set by the state and are different for every school.
There are five components that make up a district or school accountability scorecard: Student participation on state assessments, student proficiency on state assessments, student graduation or attendance rates, educator effectiveness and compliance factors (i.e. required reports to the state).
School percentages – and how they relate to the color codes
Along with color ratings, schools and districts receive percentages that indicate how many points they attained out of the possible number of points. As a district, Lakers received 74.1 percent. The junior high received 77.3 percent, the high school garnered 75 percent and the elementary netted 70.8 percent.
By percentages alone, the district and the elementary should have been placed in the lime category, as districts that receive 70 to 85 percent are placed in this color rating.
However, color categories also are based on what the MDE calls “audit checks.” This means that missing targets in some areas will automatically lower the overall scorecard color, even if the school or district is meeting all other targets.
For the scorecards, schools and districts must meet targets in the scorecard components as a whole (all students), plus meet targets set for specific subgroups. A subgroup (such as students with disabilities, economically disadvantaged) must have a minimum of 30 students in order to be considered a subgroup. Therefore, not all schools have the same number of subgroups. The system also holds schools accountable for the academic growth of their lowest-performing 30 percent of students.
As a district, Lakers earned all points possible in almost all areas except for the bottom 30 percent and students with disabilities subgroups (which include some of the same students). While the district earned 74.1 percent, which would’ve put it in the lime green category, the district was placed in the yellow category because it did not earn enough points in these subgroups. The elementary is in a similar situation.
The district is continuing its work to meet state targets for all students, including those in the bottom 30 percent, and to ensure each and every student achieves success. Individualized instruction and support – provided by experienced teachers and the newest technology (including the 1 to 1 iPad program) – will allow the district to move forward in great strides.
According to an MDE release, about 47 percent of schools statewide received a yellow rating, while 30 percent of schools received a lime rating. Color ratings are determined by points accumulated for goals met, or by demonstrating improvement. The goals are set by the state and are different for every school.
There are five components that make up a district or school accountability scorecard: Student participation on state assessments, student proficiency on state assessments, student graduation or attendance rates, educator effectiveness and compliance factors (i.e. required reports to the state).
School percentages – and how they relate to the color codes
Along with color ratings, schools and districts receive percentages that indicate how many points they attained out of the possible number of points. As a district, Lakers received 74.1 percent. The junior high received 77.3 percent, the high school garnered 75 percent and the elementary netted 70.8 percent.
By percentages alone, the district and the elementary should have been placed in the lime category, as districts that receive 70 to 85 percent are placed in this color rating.
However, color categories also are based on what the MDE calls “audit checks.” This means that missing targets in some areas will automatically lower the overall scorecard color, even if the school or district is meeting all other targets.
For the scorecards, schools and districts must meet targets in the scorecard components as a whole (all students), plus meet targets set for specific subgroups. A subgroup (such as students with disabilities, economically disadvantaged) must have a minimum of 30 students in order to be considered a subgroup. Therefore, not all schools have the same number of subgroups. The system also holds schools accountable for the academic growth of their lowest-performing 30 percent of students.
As a district, Lakers earned all points possible in almost all areas except for the bottom 30 percent and students with disabilities subgroups (which include some of the same students). While the district earned 74.1 percent, which would’ve put it in the lime green category, the district was placed in the yellow category because it did not earn enough points in these subgroups. The elementary is in a similar situation.
The district is continuing its work to meet state targets for all students, including those in the bottom 30 percent, and to ensure each and every student achieves success. Individualized instruction and support – provided by experienced teachers and the newest technology (including the 1 to 1 iPad program) – will allow the district to move forward in great strides.