Improvements in 2009 School Performance Scores Allow Schools to Shed AUS Label

Baton Rouge, La. – Statewide test results released by the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) in May revealed unprecedented gains in the percentages of students scoring Basic and above in 25 of the 30 tests administered by the state. And based on the list of Academically Unacceptable Schools (AUS) published by LDOE today, Louisiana is making significant gains in its focus to improve the state’s lowest performing schools. In fact, 29 of Louisiana’s lowest performing schools showed enough growth to shed their Academically Unacceptable label. At the same time, only three regular education schools entered AUS status.

“When we see this many of the state’s most challenging schools make this kind of improvement, it reaffirms our focus and is evidence that we are making headway in our efforts to transform low performing schools,” State Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek said. “I want to congratulate these districts and schools for their success. It is no small feat to raise a School Performance Score once a school has fallen to the level of an AUS school, but they are demonstrating that it can be done.”

Pastorek’s outlook is shared by Board of Elementary and Secondary Education President Keith Guice.

“The fact that so many of our lowest-performing schools were able to overcome tremendous challenges to shed Academically Unacceptable labels is extremely encouraging,” said Keith Guice, president of the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. “These 29 schools worked diligently to improve their academic standing, and their dedication is commendable. This is outstanding news for Louisiana, and serves as inspiration to schools and communities that face similar challenges.”

Schools deemed as Academically Unacceptable, or AUS schools, have earned a School Performance Score below 60. School Performance Scores are derived from test data (LEAP, iLEAP, GEE), attendance data, dropout data and graduation data, if applicable. When a school receives a score of less than 60 – but non-consecutively – the school earns the AUS 1 label. Every consecutive year that a school is labeled AUS, it moves to a higher level, ranging from AUS 1 – AUS 6+. As schools proceed to higher levels, the consequences become more stringent. When schools reach the level of AUS 4, they become eligible for placement into the state’s Recovery School District.

In the past, districts were required to offer students in most AUS schools the opportunity to attend another school in their district. However, No Child Left Behind (NCLB) regulations have been modified for Louisiana and a small number of other states, and the three schools entering AUS 1 this year will not be required to offer students choice but must provide them with the Supplemental Educational Services outlined by NCLB, such as after school tutoring.

Nine schools, seven designated AUS 2 and two designated AUS 3, must offer their students the option to attend another school, as well as meet the other federal and state requirements. This year, no schools entered AUS 4, and beginning July 1, 2009, the 21 schools that progressed to AUS 5 or higher were all placed under a Memorandum of Understanding or transferred to the direct jurisdiction of the RSD, along with 12 other schools deemed AUS 4 in August 2008.

The list released by the Department today did not include alternative schools. In February, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) adopted the recommendation of the Accountability Commission to calculate scores for alternative schools and not allow districts to route scores to students’ home schools. However, last week BESE voted to delay the release of School Performance Scores for alternative schools until the Board could consider recommendations from the School and District Accountability Commission in regard to changing the evaluation method of alternative schools.

Schools identified as AUS 1, AUS 2 or AUS 3 are located in the following districts:

• City of Bogalusa (1)
• Caddo Parish (1)
• East Baton Rouge Parish (1)
• Jefferson Parish (2)
• Lafayette Parish (1)
• Natchitoches (1)
• Orleans (2)
• Richland Parish (1)
• St. Landry (1)
• Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Special Schools (1)

In today’s announcement, LDOE also identified 27 schools that failed to make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in reading or math for identified subgroups. These schools are designated as School Improvement I (SI 1) or School Improvement 2 (SI 2) and must adhere to sanctions outlined by NCLB.

School Performance Scores for all schools will be issued in early fall. Today’s release centers on the NCLB requirement that all states must release a preliminary list of schools that are required to offer choice or Supplemental Educational Services. For a complete list of schools, please refer to the attached appendix.

2009 AUS Preliminary List DOC

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