What is measured
At the elementary and middle school levels, AYP is measured in the following categories:
• Attendance: Schools must have no more than 15 percent of students missing more than 15 days during the school year.
• Test participation: 95 percent of students must take the required assessments to make AYP on this indicator.
• Student performance: Based on the scores of the spring Criterion Referenced Competency Test in reading/English, language arts, mathematics, science and social studies.
At the high school level, AYP is measured as follows:
• Graduation rate: The state calculates this rate based on the number of students who enrolled in high school four years earlier and graduate with a regular education diploma within that four year period.
• Test participation: 95 percent of eligible juniors must take the Georgia high school graduation test during the spring administration of the test. It is important to note that only the scores from this first testing are used to determine AYP even though students have five opportunities to take the assessment prior to graduation.
• Student performance: Based on the scores of first-time takers (11th graders) on the Georgia high school graduation test.
Twelve of the 13 schools in the Liberty County School System made Adequate Yearly Progress standards for the 2008-09 school year.
Bradwell Institute was the only school that didn’t and failed to meet student performance scores by just a fraction.
Marking an overall positive trend within the system, last year, both high schools as well as Snelson-Golden Middle and Button Gwinnett failed to make the state-wide standards.
“It merits mentioning that although Bradwell Institute did not meet AYP standards overall, the general population of students still had passing scores,” LCSS spokeswoman Demere’ Bowen said.
“The overall student population at Bradwell Institute did not meet or exceed AYP requirements of 87.7 percent in the area of English and Language Arts, although 87.6 percent did meet or exceed the rate, missing the mark by a tenth of a percent,” Bowen said. “More importantly, only one subgroup fell below the required rate in this category, causing the school as a whole to fall into the ‘did not meet AYP standards’ category.”
According to Bowen, AYP is a measure of student achievement based on a series of annual statewide assessments administered to gauge the progress of each school, school district, and the state as a whole.
While administrators said they’re proud of all the progress, they’re continuing to work on improvement.
“Each school has a curriculum coordinator to ensure that students are being instructed according to Georgia performance standards and that all staff members are trained in unit planning,” Bowen said. “In addition the schools have developed and implemented action plans in specific academic subject areas to improve mastery of the subject content.”
She added that practice tests, academic coaches, graduation coaches, and professional learning communities are also available to students to help them improve their academic performance. The school system also has coordinators to help parents understand the testing process and results.
Bowen said advances in technology have also helped.
“Many teachers are using the Classroom Performance System to administer tests. This system uses the SMART board to display the questions in the front of the classroom and students use a handheld remote control to press a button corresponding to their chosen answer,” she said.
“One of the amazing benefits of using this system is its ability to provide immediate feedback. Scores are calculated instantaneously, allowing teachers, curriculum specialists and curriculum coordinators to address areas of need that day.”
Bowen said the system remains dedicated to improving and maintaining the performance of all the schools.
Bradwell Institute was the only school that didn’t and failed to meet student performance scores by just a fraction.
Marking an overall positive trend within the system, last year, both high schools as well as Snelson-Golden Middle and Button Gwinnett failed to make the state-wide standards.
“It merits mentioning that although Bradwell Institute did not meet AYP standards overall, the general population of students still had passing scores,” LCSS spokeswoman Demere’ Bowen said.
“The overall student population at Bradwell Institute did not meet or exceed AYP requirements of 87.7 percent in the area of English and Language Arts, although 87.6 percent did meet or exceed the rate, missing the mark by a tenth of a percent,” Bowen said. “More importantly, only one subgroup fell below the required rate in this category, causing the school as a whole to fall into the ‘did not meet AYP standards’ category.”
According to Bowen, AYP is a measure of student achievement based on a series of annual statewide assessments administered to gauge the progress of each school, school district, and the state as a whole.
While administrators said they’re proud of all the progress, they’re continuing to work on improvement.
“Each school has a curriculum coordinator to ensure that students are being instructed according to Georgia performance standards and that all staff members are trained in unit planning,” Bowen said. “In addition the schools have developed and implemented action plans in specific academic subject areas to improve mastery of the subject content.”
She added that practice tests, academic coaches, graduation coaches, and professional learning communities are also available to students to help them improve their academic performance. The school system also has coordinators to help parents understand the testing process and results.
Bowen said advances in technology have also helped.
“Many teachers are using the Classroom Performance System to administer tests. This system uses the SMART board to display the questions in the front of the classroom and students use a handheld remote control to press a button corresponding to their chosen answer,” she said.
“One of the amazing benefits of using this system is its ability to provide immediate feedback. Scores are calculated instantaneously, allowing teachers, curriculum specialists and curriculum coordinators to address areas of need that day.”
Bowen said the system remains dedicated to improving and maintaining the performance of all the schools.