State of Alaska Department of Education & Early Development 2012-2013 Report Card to the Public 1 Alaska’s Public Schools: 2012-2013 Report Card to the Public ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Alaska Department of Education & Early Development greatly appreciates the cooperation and support of Alaska’s 53 school districts and Mount Edgecumbe High School for assisting with the collection of information that provides the basis for this report. Print and electronic copies of this publication may be obtained by contacting: Alaska Department of Education & Early Development 801 West 10th Street, Suite 200 P.O. Box 110500 Juneau, AK 99811-0500 A free PDF download of this publication is available at: http://education.alaska.gov/stats 1 Alaska Department of Education & Early Development 2 Alaska’s Public Schools: 2012-2013 Report Card to the Public Governor of Alaska Sean Parnell Alaska Department of Education & Early Development Mike Hanley, Commissioner Alaska State Board of Education & Early Development Jim Merriner, Chair Public-at-Large Anchorage Esther J. Cox, First Vice-Chair 3rd Judicial District Anchorage Janel Keplinger, Second Vice-Chair Public-at-Large Kodiak James K. Fields Public / REAA Representative Glennallen Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Hays Military Advisor Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson Sue Hull Public / Fourth Judicial District Fairbanks Carol “Bunny” Schaeffer Public / Second Judicial District Kotzebue Vacant Public / First Judicial District Carly Williams Student Advisor Palmer High School 2 Alaska Department of Education & Early Development 3 Alaska’s Public Schools: 2012-2013 Report Card to the Public Table of Contents A Message from the Commissioner ............................................................................................................. 5 Alaska Education at a Glance ....................................................................................................................... 6 Standards and Assessments ......................................................................................................................... 7 History ....................................................................................................................................................... 7 Comprehensive System of Student Assessment ....................................................................................... 7 Standards Based Assessments (SBAs) ......................................................................................................... 9 SBAs Statewide Performance by Grade .................................................................................................... 9 SBAs Statewide Performance Trends ...................................................................................................... 23 SBAs Statewide Participation Rate by Grade .......................................................................................... 25 High School Graduation Qualifying Examination (HSGQE) ....................................................................... 33 HSGQE Statewide Performance by Grade .............................................................................................. 33 HSGQE Statewide Performance Trends .................................................................................................. 38 HSGQE Statewide Participation Rate (Grade 10) .................................................................................... 39 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) .............................................................................. 40 College Entrance Examinations.................................................................................................................. 43 Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) ................................................................................................................ 43 American College Test (ACT) ................................................................................................................... 43 Alaska School and District Accountability ................................................................................................. 44 Overview ................................................................................................................................................. 44 Alaska School Performance Index (ASPI) ................................................................................................ 44 Annual Measurable Objective (AMO) Targets ........................................................................................ 44 Designation of Schools ............................................................................................................................ 45 2012-2013 Reward Schools – Highest Performing ............................................................................. 46 2012-2013 Reward Schools – High Progress....................................................................................... 48 2013-2014 Priority Schools ................................................................................................................. 50 2013-2014 Focus Schools .................................................................................................................... 51 High School Completion Requirements ..................................................................................................... 53 Graduation Rate ......................................................................................................................................... 54 Annual Dropout Rate (Grades 7-12) .......................................................................................................... 55 Change in Average Daily Membership ...................................................................................................... 56 Student Attendance Rate ........................................................................................................................... 56 3 Alaska Department of Education & Early Development 4 Alaska’s Public Schools: 2012-2013 Report Card to the Public Accreditation .............................................................................................................................................. 57 Teacher Quality .......................................................................................................................................... 58 Alaska Statewide Mentor Project .............................................................................................................. 59 Definitions and Methodology .................................................................................................................... 61 4 Alaska Department of Education & Early Development 5 Alaska’s Public Schools: 2012-2013 Report Card to the Public A MESSAGE FROM THE COMMISSIONER This Report Card to the Public is published in accordance with Alaska Statute 14.03.120 for the school year 2012-2013. Under state law, each school district is required to report information about its plans and performance to its community. This report includes a statewide summary of performance results. Public knowledge of our schools is an important part of Alaska’s school accountability system. This publication reports the status of public education in Alaska. It is a source of information for Alaska’s educational policymakers, including legislators, the Governor, the State Board of Education & Early Development, local boards of education, parents, and community members. Through this report, readers can learn at-a-glance information about Alaska education and review the performance and participation rate of students statewide on assessments in reading, writing, and mathematics from grades 3 through 10; science in grades 4, 8, and 10; and on our state’s high school graduation qualifying examination. Detailed report cards about individual Alaska schools and school districts are available online at http://education.alaska.gov/stats. Our ultimate goal at the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development is no less than this: For every student to achieve academically at a high level through the guidance of outstanding teachers in quality schools. Sincerely, Mike Hanley, Commissioner Alaska Department of Education & Early Development 5 Alaska Department of Education & Early Development 6 Alaska’s Public Schools: 2012-2013 Report Card to the Public ALASKA EDUCATION AT A GLANCE 6 Alaska Department of Education & Early Development 7 Alaska’s Public Schools: 2012-2013 Report Card to the Public STANDARDS AND ASSESSMENTS History In 1993, Alaskans began developing higher standards and accountability for their local, regional, and statewide public school systems. As the cornerstone of this effort, the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development (EED) developed academic standards in twelve content areas: English and language arts; mathematics; science; history; geography; government and citizenship; skills for a healthy life; arts; world languages; technology; employability; and library and information literacy. Alaska Cultural Standards for Students were developed by the Alaska Native Knowledge Network in 1998 and adopted by the State Board of Education & Early Development (State Board) in the same year. By adopting content standards, EED has provided a framework where: • Students and teachers share clear and challenging educational goals; • Educational resources and efforts are focused on student achievement; and, • Student achievement and school performance are measured using common standards. EED created corresponding performance standards for reading, writing, and mathematics to define which specific skills a student needs to develop to confirm content standards have been met. In 2003, EED began developing the current performance standards which set grade level expectations for grades 3 to 10 in reading, writing, and mathematics and grades 3 to 11 in science. The revised performance standards were adopted by the State Board in 2005. These performance standards serve as an instructional guide for schools and a blueprint for the development of Alaska’s two standardized examinations: Standards Based Assessments (SBAs) and High School Graduation Qualifying Examination (HSGQE). Driven by a desire to better prepare graduates for college and careers, the department with the support of Alaska educators and stakeholders has revised the English Language Arts and Mathematics Standards to adequately prepare Alaskan students to compete globally. The Standards were adopted June 2012. Comprehensive System of Student Assessment State law requires a comprehensive system of student assessments. These include: • A student developmental profile Issued to all students entering kindergarten or first grade o • Standards Based Assessments Reading, writing, and mathematics assessments for students in grades 3 to 10 o Science assessments for students in grades 4, 8, and 10 o • High School Graduation Qualifying Examination Basic skills test of reading, writing, and mathematics o As of 2004, students must pass all three content areas before a diploma is issued o • A work/college ready transitional skill assessment WorkKeys assessment has been administered to all students in grade 11 o 7 Alaska Department of Education & Early Development 8 Alaska’s Public Schools: 2012-2013 Report Card to the Public Implementing and administering a statewide, comprehensive assessment system to measure the skills and knowledge of Alaska’s students is a primary activity of the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development. The implemented system measures student achievement in relation to statewide performance standards; provides valid, reliable information to policy makers; allows for data-driven decision making; and improves classroom instruction. To this end, EED has: • Provided districts with grade level expectations in reading, writing, mathematics, and science; • Developed Standards Based Assessments to measure progress in reading, writing, mathematics, and science; • Developed the High School Graduation Qualifying Examination to ensure all Alaska high school graduates demonstrate basic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics; and, • Provided ongoing technical assistance to school districts in standards based instruction, aligning curriculum to state performance standards, utilizing data to drive decisions, and completing data collection and analysis for internal and external reporting and use. EED utilizes information from the assessments, aggregated at a statewide level, to provide parents, educators, policy makers, and the community-at-large with empirical data regarding to what degree Alaskan students are succeeding in attaining Alaska’s performance standards. The following pages document the performance of Alaskan students on Alaska’s Standards Based Assessments and High School Graduation Qualifying Examination. 8 Alaska Department of Education & Early Development 9 Alaska’s Public Schools: 2012-2013 Report Card to the Public STANDARDS BASED ASSESSMENTS (SBAs) SBAs Statewide Performance by Grade SBA Grade 3 Reading State 40.0 41.1 12.2 6.8 African American 28.3 46.6 16.6 8.5 Alaska Native/Am. Indian 16.9 43.5 23.6 16.0 Asian/Pacific Islander 30.9 50.8 13.8 4.6 Caucasian 53.5 36.2 7.0 3.3 Hispanic 36.2 46.8 11.8 5.2 Two or more races 40.0 45.9 8.9 5.1 Students with Disabilities 12.8 36.7 29.1 21.4 Students without Disabilities 44.3 41.8 9.5 4.5 Limited English 9.8 45.0 27.5 17.6 Low Income 26.2 45.9 17.6 10.3 Migrant students 24.4 47.2 16.5 12.0 Female 45.0 39.1 10.2 5.6 Male 35.1 43.0 14.1 7.9 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Advanced Proficient Below Proficient Far Below Proficient SBA Grade 3 Writing State 31.1 43.5 22.8 2.6 African American 21.8 46.0 28.6 3.5 Alaska Native/Am. Indian 12.1 37.8 42.6 7.5 Asian/Pacific Islander 27.0 47.4 24.1 1.4 Caucasian 41.5 43.5 13.9 1.1 Hispanic 27.2 50.8 21.4 0.7 Two or more races 32.3 47.3 19.1 1.3 Students with Disabilities 8.0 42.5 43.7 5.7 Students without Disabilities 34.8 43.6 19.5 2.1 Limited English 8.2 38.7 46.7 6.4 Low Income 19.5 44.6 31.8 4.1 Migrant students 19.4 40.7 34.6 5.4 Female 37.7 41.6 18.9 1.8 Male 24.7 45.3 26.6 3.5 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Advanced Proficient Below Proficient Far Below Proficient 9 Alaska Department of Education & Early Development