Progress requirements. As in past years, Districts with higher numbers of English Language Learners, students with disabilities, and students of poverty, have greater difficulty meeting their federal AYP requirements. However, with the many strategies that are being used, progress is being made in all Districts. But, there is still much work to be done.Alternative and Special Education Schools in Ventura County made significantimprovement in meeting Adequate Yearly Progress. The alternative High Schools and Special Education programs are outperforming their statewide counterparts, with 65% of schools meeting federal AYP requirements, a 41% improvement over the prior year.Ventura County districts and schools are making sure that all students are receiving a rigorous standards-based instructional program. This work to close the achievement gap is showing very positive results. In schools with numerically significant subgroups, 91% of Hispanic students, 91% of Socially Economically Disadvantaged, 56% of English Learners, and 75% of students with disabilities, are making adequately yearly progress.Mathematics results are showing even more significant performance levels.No Child Left Behind (NCLB) requires that the State uses a graduation rate target as an additional indicator of Adequate Yearly Progress for all schools and districts with high school students. All the Unified and Union High School Districts in Ventura County met their federal graduation rate target.“Schools in Ventura County are continuously improving their instruction in therigorous academic content standards that have been established by the State, and more students are improving their mastery of those standards.” commented Dr. Weis.
Santa Paula schools rank high in Academic Performance Index
September 05, 2007
Santa Paula News
The Academic Performance Index (API) is the cornerstone of California’s Public Schools Accountability Act of 1999.
Dr. Charles WeisVentura County Superintendent of SchoolsThe Academic Performance Index (API) is the cornerstone of California’s Public Schools Accountability Act of 1999. The API is a numeric index that measures the academic performance and growth of schools. The API is an important part of the federal measure of Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) because it shows academic growth over time.Dr. Charles Weis, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools stated, “We are seeing some good growth in many of our districts, but most impressive are the gains in districts with a higher concentration of English Language Learners and children living in poverty. For example, the Oxnard and Santa Paula Elementary School Districts and the Santa Paula Union High School District made positive growth on their API scores. The Santa Paula UHSD made the greatest overall gain of any district in Ventura County, advancing by 38 points over last year. Renaissance High in the Santa Paula UHSD led all schools in the county with a 145-point gain over last year.This year, Chavez Elementary in the Oxnard Elementary School District advanced 69 points, the highest gain for an elementary school in the county; while Mesa Verde Middle School in Moorpark Unified had a 28 point gain, the highest for a middle school in the county. Santa Paula High School and Ventura High School shared the top API growth honors for comprehensive high schools with 34-point gains over last year.The Alternative and Continuation Schools continue to show improvement with higher gains in the API than their more traditional counterparts. “Students served in alternative programs need tremendous support academically and personally. At one time these students might have been left behind, but the results show that they are receiving a standards-based education that is preparing them for a productive future.” stated Dr. Weis. Schools throughout Ventura County have worked hard to improve student achievement. Changes that have been utilized in this effort include: using data to target individual student needs; hiring English Language Development and Mathematics coaches; providing extensive professional development for teachers and administrators; providing time for teachers to collaborate and focus on student work; providing extensive support from district office administration; and in some cases, restructuring of the school.Strong academic achievement is occurring in every District in Ventura County. Since 2000, the median API for Ventura County has shown a steady increase, rising 54 points to 778. At the present time, 74% of all schools have an API above 700, with 41% of schools above the State target of 800, including 17 schools over 900 API.The AYP, which includes the API, provides a consistent measure of our schools asfederal accountability requirements are being implemented. The five year trend for federal Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) has also been positive, with 15% more schools meeting all AYP criteria than in 2003. Ventura County High Schools continue to out-gain Elementary and Middle Schools, with a 41% increase since 2003. These data are especially encouraging considering the measure of percent proficient has increased over that time period and more students are being tested than in years past.43% of Ventura County School Districts met all of the federal Adequate Yearly