In part five of our series on the Georgia Department of Education Performance Goals and Indicators, we look at Goal Three: “Improve the provision of a free and appropriate public education to students with disabilities”. Today we focus on the High School Graduation Test and how LCSS has performed. Objective three is to increase the performance of SWD on statewide assessments when given appropriate accommodations.
High School Graduation Test ELA
Year Target Georgia LCSS
2005-06 66% 73.7% 66.7%
2006-07 64% 76.3% 66.2%
2007-08 66% 59.7% 44.6%
2008-09 67% Not Yet Posted
High School Graduation Test Math
Year Target Georgia LCSS
2005-06 51.77% 56.6% 41.8%
2006-07 52.77% 60% 37.9%
2007-08 53.77% 62.9% 46.4%
2008-09 55.7% Not Yet Posted
High School Graduation Test Science
Year Georgia LCSS
2005-06 33.9% 19.7%
2006-07 42.2% 23.4%
2007-08 57.8% 38.6%
2008-09 Not Yet Posted
High School Graduation Test Social Studies
Year Georgia LCSS
2005-06 48% 35.8%
2006-07 56.4% 38.5%
2007-08 58.4% 39.5%
2008-09 Not Yet Posted
The scores, while improving every year (except last year in English), are still not equal to the state average nor have we met the targets in English and math. What are we doing to improve? We have targeted tutoring for SWD who failed one or more sections of the test. In addition, we have introduced transitional math at the middle schools and one high school to provide intervention of previously missed math skills. This school year and next, we will also have instructional coaches go into co-taught classrooms (pre-K through high school) to provide support to both teachers. The coaches are successful teachers already employed in the LCSS who have proven themselves. They will be able to model lessons, offer support, give ideas and share materials or other resources to help teachers.
School notes is an opinion piece written by staff members of the Liberty County School System covering areas of their expertise. Kelly is executive director for Liberty County Division for Exceptional Learning
High School Graduation Test ELA
Year Target Georgia LCSS
2005-06 66% 73.7% 66.7%
2006-07 64% 76.3% 66.2%
2007-08 66% 59.7% 44.6%
2008-09 67% Not Yet Posted
High School Graduation Test Math
Year Target Georgia LCSS
2005-06 51.77% 56.6% 41.8%
2006-07 52.77% 60% 37.9%
2007-08 53.77% 62.9% 46.4%
2008-09 55.7% Not Yet Posted
High School Graduation Test Science
Year Georgia LCSS
2005-06 33.9% 19.7%
2006-07 42.2% 23.4%
2007-08 57.8% 38.6%
2008-09 Not Yet Posted
High School Graduation Test Social Studies
Year Georgia LCSS
2005-06 48% 35.8%
2006-07 56.4% 38.5%
2007-08 58.4% 39.5%
2008-09 Not Yet Posted
The scores, while improving every year (except last year in English), are still not equal to the state average nor have we met the targets in English and math. What are we doing to improve? We have targeted tutoring for SWD who failed one or more sections of the test. In addition, we have introduced transitional math at the middle schools and one high school to provide intervention of previously missed math skills. This school year and next, we will also have instructional coaches go into co-taught classrooms (pre-K through high school) to provide support to both teachers. The coaches are successful teachers already employed in the LCSS who have proven themselves. They will be able to model lessons, offer support, give ideas and share materials or other resources to help teachers.
School notes is an opinion piece written by staff members of the Liberty County School System covering areas of their expertise. Kelly is executive director for Liberty County Division for Exceptional Learning