Oregon Schools Receive Preliminary Federal Ratings Under NCLB

74% (923 of 1236 Oregon schools) met AYP standards compared to 70% in 2005-06.

Oregon State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo Photo by: Tim King

(SALEM, Ore. ) - State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo released today the preliminary federal ratings under No Child Left Behind for Oregon’s public elementary, middle, and high schools.

The 2006-07 preliminary report lists Oregon public schools that are making adequate yearly progress (AYP) and those that have been identified for improvement under state and federal requirements.

Schools may appeal their preliminary rating, and final AYP designations will be released in October on the school’s report card.

"While today's report shows that we still have work to do to ensure that all students are successful, it demonstrates that Oregon schools continue to work hard and maintain their focus," Castillo said. “The challenges were many for schools this year. I am proud of what they continue to accomplish. This is a testament to the hard work and dedicated focus of our excellent teachers and school leaders.”

There were several changes to AYP calculation this year including new achievement standards in reading & math and a last minute switch to paper-and-pencil testing.

Oregon’s preliminary 2006-07 AYP report shows:

• 74% (923 of 1236 Oregon schools) met AYP standards compared to 70% in 2005-06
• 21% (258 of 1236 Oregon schools) did not meet compared to 30% in 2005-06 (Of the 258 schools not meeting preliminary AYP: 176 did not meet in English/Language Art; 217 did not meet in Mathematics; 40 did not meet in the other academic indicator of graduation or attendance)
• 85% (793 of 936) of elementary and middle schools met AYP compared to 82% in 2005-06
• 43% (130 of 300) of high schools met AYP compared to 31% in 2005-06

Schools in Improvement:
Thirty-eight Title I schools did not meet AYP in the same content area for 2 or more years and are subject to program improvement, of these schools 15 are identified for program improvement for the first time.

Eight Title I schools are in program improvement for not meeting AYP for 2 years in a row, but met AYP this year.

A total of 12 Title I schools identified for improvement last year met AYP for the second consecutive year and are no longer identified for improvement.

No Child Left Behind requires all students to meet state standards by 2014 and requires schools to meet growth targets each year in order to meet the adequate yearly progress definition of the law.

As part of AYP, students must be identified and have their progress measured and reported by specific populations: economically disadvantaged, disabled, English language learners, and racial and/or ethnic groups.

Under Oregon’s NCLB plan, schools must get 50% to standard in English/language arts and 49% to standard in math for all student groups this year.

The academic target is ten points higher than in 2004 and will be raised 10 points higher in 2008. Schools must also meet an attendance or graduation requirement in order to make the AYP list.

In addition, school districts must inform parents and communities about school progress. Schools that receive certain types of federal funds and do not make adequate yearly progress are required to provide supplemental services, such as free tutoring or after-school assistance, take corrective actions and, if still not making adequate yearly progress after five years, must make dramatic changes to the way the school is run.