No Child Left Behind Notification
Please Be Aware Of Our Situation
by Paul Massman
September 02, 2009
DATE: September 1, 2009
TO: Lewis Central High School Parents/Guardians
SUBJECT: Notice of Adequate Yearly Progress
Many of you are aware of the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB)
Act, which requires schools to assess students annually and to meet
student achievement goals. If a school does not meet those
assessment and achievement goals (termed “adequate yearly progress”
or AYP) for two consecutive years, and it is a school that receives
federal Title I funds, then it is placed on a federal “Schools in
Need of Assistance (SINA)” list and subjected to federal sanctions.
Schools or districts are cited if they a) don’t meet 95%
participation rate for assessments, b) don’t meet student
achievement goals, or c) don’t meet attendance rate for elementary
and middle schools or graduation rate for high school.
I am writing to inform you that Lewis Central High School has been
designated as a “School in Need of Assistance,” or SINA, under
these federal guidelines because a portion of our students did not
reach proficiency goals on their reading tests for two consecutive
years. SINA schools that receive federal Title I funding are
sanctioned by the federal government. However, we do not receive
any federal Title I funding, and so we will not receive any
sanctions.
We do nonetheless want to communicate with you about the federal
findings, and inform you about the improvement strategies our
school already has implemented. Please also remember that the SINA
designation refers to federal criteria. Lewis Central High School
is dedicated to providing an education that ensures academic
success for all its students. We remain a fully accredited school
in complete compliance with State of Iowa regulations.
WHY LCHS DIDN’T MAKE AYP:
Schools don’t make AYP when they don’t achieve one of the measures
listed above: a) 95% participation rate for assessments, b) student
achievement goals, or c) 95% attendance rate for elementary and
middle schools or 90% graduation rate for high school. Lewis
Central High School is listed because not enough 11th grade
students met their goals in the following areas:
1. All students reading, 72.87% proficient (79.3% was the
state AYP goal)
2. Low SES sub-group reading, 50.79% proficient (79.3% was
the state AYP goal)
HOW LCHS WILL IMPROVE:
Although we have many indicators that show Lewis Central High
School is offering a top-quality education, we know that continuous
improvement is important to ensure all of our students are reaching
their highest potential. Using data about the students and their
achievement, our staff already has begun to identify areas for
improvement. For example:
•Professional development for teachers in research-based strategies
to more effectively teach literacy and mathematical thinking.
•Expanded supplemental reading instruction through Second Chance
Reading in grades 6-12.
Some student groups may require additional instructional
interventions, pending a review of our current programs and
services. In addition, the Iowa Department of Education and Lewis
Central district already have begun providing technical assistance
to Lewis Central High School as required by the NCLB law.
HOW PARENTS CAN HELP:
Parent support is essential to help your student reach his or her
highest academic success, but parents may need ideas about the best
ways to be involved. A few suggestions include:
•Communicate regularly with your child’s teachers about overall
goals for the year and your child’s progress toward those
goals.
•Make sure your child attends school regularly. Attendance is
important at every grade level. When your child must be absent,
please talk with the teacher to coordinate make-up work and
assignments.
•Help your child with his or her homework. If you are unable to
help, contact the school to request a tutor.
•Volunteer at the school. Every teacher needs volunteers to help in
the classroom, or even with projects that can be done in your home.
Other areas in the school, such as the office or cafeteria, also
need volunteers.
As parents, you can be assured your students continue to receive a
high quality education at Lewis Central High School. The assessment
results cited by NCLB are one useful measurement for us, but we
also have many other indicators to demonstrate that our students
are indeed high achievers. For instance:
•Lewis Central High School continues to have majority of our
graduating seniors take the ACT with composite average over the
past five years of 22.0, which is above the national average.
•Lewis Central High School’s graduation rate for 2008 -09 went
above 90 percent for the first time in school history.
We are very proud of our students and of the education they receive
from the staff at LCHS. We also are committed to continuous
improvement, and so will continue to seek new data and make any
changes necessary to benefit student learning. We appreciate and
depend on your ongoing support and assistance, and welcome your
suggestions.
Sincerely,
Chuck Story
Principal
