(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - The first year’s results of the state’s new accountability and support system for Alaska’s public schools has been released by the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development.

Through a federal waiver from major provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act, the Alaska School Performance Index (ASPI) replaces the accountability system of Adequate Yearly Progress.

“The goal of using the ASPI rating system is to inform schools and the state of local outcomes in critical areas,” said Alaska Education Commissioner Mike Hanley. “By doing so we are able to focus resources in areas of challenge, and continue the efforts that produce success.”

Alaska received the waiver because it proactively adopted academic standards for kindergarten through grade 12 that prepare high school graduates to be ready for careers and postsecondary education; adopted regulations that require school districts to consider student achievement when evaluating educators; and crafted an Alaska accountability and support system, known as the Alaska School Performance Index.

Statewide fifty-two of 503 rated schools earned five stars, the highest rating; 190 schools are four-star schools; 162 schools are three-star schools; 49 schools are two-star schools; and 50 schools are one-star schools. Collectively, nearly 92 percent of students attended schools in 2012-2013 that earned three stars or above.

Alaska gives each school a rating from one star to five stars. Of the ten Ketchikan schools, six received 4 star ratings, three received 3 star ratings, and one received a 1 star rating.

Ketchikan Schools Alaska School Performance Index (ASPI) Ratings:

• Fast Track, 3 stars - ASPI Score 72.71 3
• Fawn Mountain Elementary, 4 stars - ASPI Score 89.40
• Houghtaling Elementary, 4 stars - ASPI Score 89.89
• Ketchikan Charter School, 3 stars - ASPI Score 84.46
• Ketchikan High School, 4 stars - ASPI Score 91.12
• Ketchikan Regional Youth Facility, 1 star - ASPI Score 51.25
• Point Higgins School, 4 stars - ASPI Score 92.45
• Revilla Jr/Sr High School, 3 stars - ASPI Score 66.97
• Schoenbar Middle School, 4 stars - ASPI Score 88.48
• Tongass School of Arts and Sciences Charter School, 4 stars - ASPI Score 90.69

http://education.alaska.gov/aspi/2013/districts/Ketchikan_Gateway_Borough_Schools.pdf

ASPI gives each school a score on a 100-point scale. This year’s ASPI school scores are based on student performance in school year 2012-2013. The score is based on:

• student proficiency in state reading, writing, and math assessments in grades 3 to 10;
• the degree to which a school’s students are improving, remaining the same, or declining in reading, writing, and math scores;
• attendance;
• graduation rates if the school has 12th-graders;
• student scores on SATs and ACTs (college-readiness) and WorkKeys (career-readiness) assessments in high school; and
• student participation rates in WorkKeys assessments.

Statewide, each school also has the goal of reducing its percentage of non-proficient students by half over the next six years, in yearly increments. The goals are called Annual Measureable Objectives (AMOs). The AMOs apply to the student body as a whole and to subgroups that have at least five students. The subgroups are: students with disabilities, English language learners, economically disadvantaged students, Alaska Natives and American Indians, Caucasians, African-Americans, Hispanics, Mixed Race, and Asian/Pacific Islanders.

Based on the ASPI score, Alaska gives each school a rating from one star to five stars. All one-star, two-star, and three-star schools must implement improvement plans. Improvement plans also are required for four-star and five-star schools whose graduation rate has declined from the previous year; or whose assessment scores have declined for two consecutive years; or which have not met their AMOs for two consecutive years. The last two criteria apply to achievement in the student body as a whole or any subgroup(s) of students.

Under ASPI, parents will continue to receive reports of their students’ performance on state reading, writing, and math assessments. The public will continue to have access to data about schoolwide and districtwide student performance.

Edited by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

On the Web:

KETCHIKAN SCHOOL ASPI WORKSHEETS
http://education.alaska.gov/aspi/2013/districts/
Ketchikan_Gateway_Borough_Schools.pdf

SEARCH FOR YOUR SCHOOLS ASPI WORKSHEETS
http://education.alaska.gov/aspi/2013/search.cfm

Alaska School Performance Index 2012-2013 - Summary of All Schools Statewide - Sorted by District
http://education.alaska.gov/aspi/pdf/school_list_2013.pdf

Alaska School Performance Index 2012-2013 - Breakout by School Count and Breakout by Student Count
http://education.alaska.gov/aspi/pdf/statewide_summary_2013.pdf

ASPI Explanation Graphic
http://education.alaska.gov/aspi/pdf/aspi_explanation_graphic.pdf

Source of News: 

Alaska Department of Education & Early Development
education.alaska.gov

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