Miller R-2 Elementary School Improvement Level 4
August 2, 2011
Dear Parent or Guardian,
The goal of the “No Child Left Behind Act“(NCLB) of 2001 is to ensure that all children in this country receive a quality education. Under NCLB, each state is required to assess all schools to determine if each school has made adequate yearly progress (AYP) toward meeting the academic testing standards and additional measures set by the state. AYP decisions are based on the results of state testing in communication arts and math and the school’s attendance rate or graduation rate. If the school has not made AYP for two consecutive years, it is considered “in need of improvement.”
Based on the results of the 2009-2010 academic testing in communication arts and math the school’s attendance rate or graduation rate, your child’s school, Miller R-2 Elementary, did not make adequate yearly progress for the following reasons:
1. The students in Miller R-2 Elementary did not meet the AYP target of 75.5% proficient or advanced in communication arts. 40.8 % of Miller R-2 Elementary students scored proficient or advanced in communication arts.
2. The students in Miller R-2 Elementary did not meet the AYP target of 72.5% proficient or advanced in mathematics. However, the students at Miller R-2 Elementary did meet the mathematics AYP with growth model. This means that the percent of students who were Proficient or Advanced plus the percent of students who are on track using the Growth calculation will meet AYP in the future if continued progress is made.
The Miller R-2 School District did meet the additional indication for attendance with 94.7%. The District received the state honor of Distinction in Performance meeting 14 out of 14 requirements for the 2010/2011 school year. The Miller R-2 School Improvement Plan will continue to be revised and fully implemented during this school year as we strive to meet the high expectations of NCLB. Several schools in the area and in the state are at this level of school improvement. High state and federal standards are requiring all districts to raise their expectations to meet the needs of all students.
Because this is the fourth year of this designation, the school is considered to be in Level 4, Restructuring Planning of School Improvement. The district must develop a plan for restructuring the school. One important component of this plan will be parent involvement in both the development and implementation of the plan.
Your child would be eligible for public school choice under the NCLB ACT if there was that option within our district. Due to our small district having only one elementary campus, this option is not available.
However, when a school is identified as Level 2 of School Improvement and every subsequent year thereafter it is identified for improvement, Supplemental Educational Services (SES) are available for eligible children. Information about SES and how to obtain services will be coming within the next two weeks to parents of eligible children.
All students from low-income families, those that qualify for free or reduced lunch, who attend a Title I school in its second year or above of school improvement are eligible for SES.
Information about Supplemental Educational Services (SES) will also be available on the district’s website: millerschools.org. The information will be updated periodically and toward the end of the school year.
We encourage you to become involved with your child’s school to support school improvement by participating in the following activities:
Helping with homework
Reading to your child, with your child and listening to your child read daily
Back to School Night
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Math Night
Book Fair
Literacy Night
Afterschool Celebrations
Grandparents Night
P.T.O. Membership
Serving on committees and leadership teams
Volunteering for field trips
Attending Fall, Winter and Valentine Parties
Music programs
Athletic events
Sincerely,
Mr. Josh Angel
Elementary Principal
