According to a report recently released by the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, the Dickinson Public Schools District did not meet the state's standard for adequate yearly progress in the 2009-10 school year.
DPS narrowly missed the mark in the reading category in regards to students with disabilities. The achievement result was just over 69 percent, whereas the achievement goal was about 77 percent.
The Billings County Public School District was also found to not have made adequate progress in mathematics with students with disabilities. Achievement scores came in at 20 percent, short of the just-over-70 percent achievement goal.
Based on student performance data, the Department of Public Instruction reports the status of 460 schools for 2009-10 and compares the results to previous school years.
To determine a school's adequate yearly progress status, the DPI applies a set of rules to compare a school's performance rates against the state's established performance goals.
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Progress is measured as part of the "No Child Left Behind" act and is determined by a variety of factors, including academic achievement in reading, language arts and mathematics, as well as graduation and participation rates.
Title I program improvement is based on annual AYP reports, according to DPI information.
No significant changes were noticed this year compared to last year's progress reports, said Laurie Matzke, state Title I director.
"Next year is the year we're expecting pretty dramatic changes," Matzke said. "This year there were a few more schools and a few more districts that didn't make AYP, but the good news is there continue to be schools and districts that are making gains, making improvements and are making AYP."
Schools involved with Title I are on a 12-year timeline, which requires all students be proficient in the program by 2014. Every three years, the percentage of students that must be proficient increases, making it a challenge, Matzke said.
"Many people question, is that really possible, 100 percent," Matzke said. "100 percent seems unrealistic if you talk to most administrators. I agree, but how can you really say you don't hold those high expectations for all of our kids."
Schools or districts that receive Title I funding and do not make required progress for two consecutive years are identified as needing improvement, she said.
"If you are identified for Title I improvement, you have access to additional funds," she said.
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Information from test scores is received in about February, Matzke said. Preliminary AYP reports are then released to the schools in March and April, with a full report released at the end of May and early June. Once preliminary reports are released, there is an appeal process where school administrators can verify their results.
About 380 schools receive Title I funds across the state, she said.
Sixteen schools currently in program improvement made Title I AYP based on the 2009-10 data. However, since it is only their first year of making AYP, they are still identified for program improvement for the 2010-11 school year. Locally, Killdeer Elementary School was identified.
Of the 122 schools that did not make AYP, 27 schools did not make AYP for the first time, based on the 2009-2010 data. There are no repercussions for these schools at this time. Locally, Beach High School -- part of the Beach Public School District -- was identified as not making AYP.
"The district made it as such, so we're okay district-wise," said Larry Helvik, superintendent of Beach School District. "We've incorporated some things in the elementary that are helping, and I think we need to extend some more things into the high school, more assistance in reading and math."
Helvik said there are concerns over next year's bar being set higher.
"It's going to be harder to make it next year," Helvik said. "We're going to try some more one-on-one assistance with those not making the proficient level, especially at the secondary level."
Doug Sullivan, superintendent of Dickinson Public Schools, could not be reached Wednesday.
