2007 Adequate Yearly Progress results released 8/30/2007 9:45 PMMedia Release Office of Community Relations Contact: Howie Padilla - (651) 767-8104 The Minnesota Department of Education released today its annual report on Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) made by schools throughout the state. The report highlights progress made in several Saint Paul Public Schools, including Battle Creek Middle School and Eastern Heights Elementary, which were both removed from the list of schools designated as needing improvement. It also shows progress made by students and staff members at schools like Ames Elementary, which met AYP standards this year and is poised to be taken off the list next year. The report indicates that for the second time in the five years that the standards have been measured, the District did not meet the AYP standard. It also shows a decrease in the number of Saint Paul Public Schools that met the benchmark for adequate progress. For example, of the 65 traditional K-12 schools in Saint Paul, 22 met the standard in both Reading and Math. That total is down from a total of 47 one year ago. Superintendent Carstarphen said that the results did not catch the District off guard. “Because we track our schools’ progress regularly, we were prepared for these results,” Dr. Carstarphen said. “Our district accepts responsibility for them and we are poised to address them this year with implementation of our Strategic Plan for Continued Excellence.” That plan commits to building on a successful foundation while ramping up efforts to meet rising expectations for our students, staff members, and community. Dr. Carstarphen said that she will be working with state education officials to further determine what the AYP report and the state’s test results mean for Saint Paul Public Schools and the state. AYP results measure the progress schools make in compliance with the federal No Child Left Behind law enacted in 2002. |