State releases Maryland School Assessment (MSA) data

Elementary and middle school students at Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) continue to work toward 2014 goals on the reading and mathematics Maryland School Assessment (MSA). In elementary schools, 86.5 percent of students scored proficient or advanced on the reading MSA and 84.1 percent on the mathematics test. In middle schools, 82.8 percent scored proficient or advanced on the reading MSA and 79.5 percent on the mathematics test.

 

"Thanks to the hard work of our outstanding staff and students, Charles County is making progress, especially in the areas of special education and free and reduced meals (FARMS) subgroups," said Superintendent of Schools James E. Richmond. "We still have a lot of work to do, and the improvement targets continue to get harder to meet as schools reach the 80 and 90 percent levels."

 

The MSA reading composite score at the elementary level has risen 22 percentage points since 2003, when the tests first started. Elementary mathematics proficiency has increased by 19.9 points. Middle school reading proficiency has increased 16.6 percentage points since 2003, while middle school math proficiency has risen 33.4 points.

 

The MSA scores were released as part of the Maryland 2011 Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) report, which uses the assessment data to determine if schools have met federal testing targets. The tests are required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) that charts the progress of the overall student population in the grades tested as well as for students receiving special services and by racial subgroups. Scores are reported for a total of 12 tests, six reading and six math, taken in March by students in grades three through eight. Scores are expressed as the percentage of students who scored at or above the proficiency levels, which were set in 2003. The annual measurable objective (AMO) is the yearly benchmark established by the state for school systems to meet their goals by 2014. If one subgroup in a school does not meet the goal, the entire school does not make AYP.

 

ADEQUATE YEARLY PROGRESS

 

• Overall, 13 of Charles County Public Schools 29 elementary and middle schools met all testing targets and made AYP.
• Schools that did not meet every one of the overall or subgroup targets in mathematics or reading for two or more consecutive years are identified for School Improvement. Schools exit School Improvement if they meet every one of the area and subgroup targets for two consecutive years. Four of 29 CCPS schools have been identified as schools in improvement.
• In CCPS schools, C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School, which is a Title I school, entered school in improvement status and is required to offer school choice to parents. Letters to all Barnhart parents will be sent by July 6 outlining their options for the next school year. Only Title I schools in school improvement are required to offer school choice. There are no CCPS schools in the "priority" stage, which is the most severe level of School Improvement. For more information about Maryland's AYP process, visit http://mdk12.org/assessments/ayp/index.html.
• The targets that all students and subgroups had to meet went up this year, causing more CCPS schools to miss making AYP. Five of the schools that did not make AYP missed making it in only one subgroup.

"Schools face much greater challenges with meeting AYP as targets grow higher. Schools that did not meet AYP are not failing schools, but simply have areas where the teachers, staff and students must put more of a focused effort," said Richmond. "We will work closely and collaboratively with these schools to address these areas in the coming year."

MSA PERFORMANCE

 

Students in the special education subgroup also made significant gains. Highlights include:

• Grade 4 special education reading went from 57.6 percent in 2010 proficient and advanced to 70.3 percent in 2011.
• Grade 4 special education math went from 59.1 percent in 2010 proficient and advanced to 65.2 percent in 2011.
• Grade 6 special education reading went from 53.1 percent in 2010 proficient and advanced to 61.4 percent in 2011
• Grade 6 special education math went from 44.1 percent in 2010 proficient and advanced to 58.8 percent in 2011.
• Grade 8 special education reading went from 43.9 percent in 2010 proficient and advanced to 57.4 percent in 2011.
• Grade 8 special education math went from 29.5 percent in 2010 proficient and advanced to 43.2 percent in 2011.

Students in the free and reduced meals (FARMS) subgroup also made significant gains. Highlights include:

• Grade 4 FARMS reading went from 76.2 percent in 2010 proficient and advanced to 81.2 percent in 2011.
• Grade 6 FARMS math went from 68 percent in 2010 proficient and advanced to 74.1 percent in 2011.
• Grade 7 FARMS math went from 54.2 percent in 2010 proficient and advanced to 68.1 percent in 2011.
• Grade 8 FARMS reading went from 66.4 percent in 2010 proficient and advanced to 71.9 percent in 2011.
• Grade 8 FARMS math went from 50.4 percent in 2010 proficient and advanced to 60.2 percent in 2011.

State, system and local school data are now available on the Maryland State Department of Education's report card, www.mdreportcard.org. Charles County Public Schools results can also be found at http://www2.ccboe.com/msa/msa.cfm.

In the coming months, the Maryland State Department of Education will release algebra and English II data, High School Assessments, system AYP, attendance and graduation numbers.

 

Notes from the Board of Education Work Sesson, 6/27/11

The Board Work Session on Monday, June 27th will be re-broadcast on Comcast Channel 96, Verizon FIOS Channel 12 and is available via webstream at http://www.ccboe.com/ . To view the full agenda and the various reports, please visit BoardDocs

The below notes are my personal notes and are not intended to be all-inclusive or official minutes for the Board of Education meetings and are provided as a request from my supporters and the general public in a personal effort to be more transparent. Although I have diligently tried to make these notes as unbiased and accurate as possible, I am only human and do make mistakes.

Executive session

• Executive session is closed as permitted by the Maryland Open Meetings Act of the State Government Article to discuss personnel matters, specifically the Superintendent's recommendations on certificated positions.

Call to order - 6 p.m.

Pledge of Allegiance

Public Forum

• No one present

FY 2012 Budget Amendment - F.B. Gwynn Educational Center

• Richmond - spoke regarding transfer of $1.3M transfer from fund balance to renovations at the Gwynn Center. Needs additional funds to complete the renovation properly.
• Balides - explained financial aspect
• Bowie - what if we approve & commissioners deny?
• Richmond - can't imagine them doing so, but we will continue to strive to make the changes
• Cook - pool? Fully operational

Motion to accept Budget Amendment by Abell; Second by Wade

Yes = Unanimous (Pedersen absent)

Personnel

Motion to accept Personnell by Cook; Second by Lukas

Yes = Unanimous (Pedersen absent)

Wise - August 22, will be a work session for the Board of Education to discuss vision and goals
Lukas - Any rescheduling of the meeting with the commissioners
Wise - Not at this time.

Adjournment

REMINDER: Board Work Session, 06/27/11

The Board of Education of Charles County is holding a work session at 6 p.m., Monday, June 27, at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building in La Plata. The meeting will be aired live on Comcast Channel 96 and Verizon FiOS Channel 12, and streamed on the school system Web site at http://www2.ccboe.com/boe/live/. The agenda is as follows:
Call to order - 6 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance
Public Forum

Work session

• FY 2012 Budget Amendment - F.B. Gwynn Educational Center

Executive session
Executive session is closed as permitted by the Maryland Open Meetings Act of the State Government Article to discuss personnel matters, specifically the Superintendent's recommendations on certificated positions.

Supreme Court backs Miranda warning when questioning juveniles

Los Angeles Times
David G. Savage, Washington Bureau
June 16, 201

The Supreme Court expanded the rights of juveniles Thursday, deciding by a 5-4 vote that police officers who remove a student from a class to question him about a crime usually must warn him of his right to remain silent.

"It is beyond dispute that children will often feel bound to submit to police questioning when an adult in the same circumstance would feel free to leave," wrote Justice Sonia Sotomayor for the court.

The decision does not set a strict rule for all cases involving young people, but instead says their age calls for giving them special protection...

...Sotomayor said age is a crucial factor, and it suggests the student would feel he is in the control of the police. Officers and judges "simply need the common sense to know that a 7-year-old is not a 13-year old and neither is an adult," she wrote. "To hold, as the state requests, that a child's age is never relevant to whether a suspect has been taken into custody — and thus to ignore the very real differences between children and adults — would be to deny children the full scope of the procedural safeguards that Miranda guarantees to adults."

Read more HERE.

Notes from the Board of Education Meeting, 6/14/11

The Board Meeting on Tuesday, June 14th will be re-broadcast on Comcast Channel 96, Verizon FIOS Channel 12 and is available via webstream at http://www.ccboe.com/ . To view the full agenda and the various reports, please visit BoardDocs.

The below notes are my personal notes and are not intended to be all-inclusive or official minutes for the Board of Education meetings and are provided as a request from my supporters and the general public in a personal effort to be more transparent. Although I have diligently tried to make these notes as unbiased and accurate as possible, I am only human and do make mistakes.

Executive session - 12 p.m.

Call to order - 1 p.m.

Pledge of Allegiance - Maurice J. McDonough High School's JROTC unit

Swearing-in of new Student Board member - Taylor Brooks, Westlake High School

Contract signing

Motion to accept EACC contract by Abell; Second by Wade

Yes = Unanimous

Motion to accept AFSME contract by Pedersen; Second by Wade

Yes = Unanimous

Superintendent's update - Read report

Correspondence/Board member updates

• Wise - Graduations went well. Poor behavior by attendees in audience has to be stopped.
• Pedersen - Thank you to...Reading Partners Luncheon, Adult Independence Graduations, Title 1 Picnic, Juvenile Drug Court

Education Association of Charles County update - Read Report (Crab Feast 10/7)

Risk assessment and internal audit plan - PLEASE Read through report for good information

Student Board Member update - Read report

Deputy Superintendent Update -

• Graduations - statistics already reported in Supt. Report. 67% attended Project Graduation.
• Regency Stadium incident - Thursday, June 9th approx. 1,000 students attended baseball game from the tri-county area. Heat related issues & medical problems caused the event to be cancelled early and approx. 80 students were treated and sent to hospitals. CCPS immediately sent buses to transport students. Reviewing the entire incident with all involved (stadium, EMS, etc) to gain perspective and conclusions.
• Abell- Relay public concerns as well as my own to be considered during this review process, including being told that water was not available to students who did not have money to purchase it prior to awareness of medical issues. Why did we not cancel the event since we were aware of the temperatures and alerts at least 3-days prior? Reported, students were complaining of heat related issues prior to EMS being called, but they were instructed to sit down and behave. Wants the completed review/conclusion made available to the public.
• Cunningham - Same trip occurred the day before for other students without incident. Students arrived about 10:30...EMS called at noon.
• Cook - Her child was there and stated that water was offered to the students prior to the illnesses.
• Richmond - Cancel future trips of this nature and make an evening event. Takes full responsibility.
• Abell - Thank you to all responders in the tri-county area.

CIP update - See report

• Gwynn Center Renovations - reviewing all programs contained therein to modify/upgrade renovations ongoing as needed.
• Navy Housing Site - will soon be ours. Asbestos review needed. We will be responsible for tear down of existing structures. Will help aid LaPlata High School flow of traffic during renovations.

Lifelong Learning Center - See report (power point presentation to be added to Board Docs for pubic)

New Office 2010 textbooks - See report; to be placed at several high schools for public review

New policy 5118 elementary and secondary: gang activity - see new policy

Unfinished business - none

New business - none

Future agenda items - Student transfers review added to August meeting

Recognition - 4:15 p.m.

• Ruth Ann Hall awards
• Outstanding vice principal award
• Outstanding support staff awards
• Resolution - Charles County Teacher of the Year - Stephanie Fara Harris-Walent, language arts teacher, Milton M. Somers Middle School
• Employees retirement resolution

Public Forum - 6 p.m.

• Ryan Shauf - follow-up on his wife's statements from last month regarding bullying at their children's schools. Please continue to work with schools and staff because not all issues are being addressed properly.

Action items

• Minutes

Motion to accept the Minutes by Cook; Second by Pedersen
Yes = Unanimous

• Personnel

Motion to accept personnel by Pedersen; Second by Cook

Yes = Unanimous

• Handwriting

Motion to accept the handwriting curriculum by Wade; Second by Cook

Yes = Unanimous

• Educational Facilities Master Plan

Motion to accept the Educational Facilities Master Plan by Cook; Second by Lukas

Yes = Unanimous

• FY 2011 inter category budget change

Motion to accept the FY 2011 inter category budget change by Pedersen; Second by Cook

Yes = Unanimous

Adjournment

REMINDER: Board of Education Meeting, 6/14/11

The Board of Education's next monthly meeting is Tuesday, June 14, at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building on Radio Station Road in La Plata. The public portion of the meeting begins at 1 p.m. and recognition begins at 4:15 p.m. The meeting is televised live on Comcast Channel 96 and Verizon FiOS Channel 12, and is rebroadcast throughout the week. Program schedules for Channel 96 are available on the Charles County Public Schools Web site at www2.ccboe.com/publicinfo/channel96/schedule.cfm.
Executive session - 12 p.m.
Call to order - 1 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance - Maurice J. McDonough High School's JROTC unit

Swearing-in of new Student Board member
Contract signing


Superintendent's update


Reports of officers/boards/committees


Correspondence/Board member updates


Education Association of Charles County update


Risk assessment and internal audit plan


Student Board Member update


Graduation update


CIP update


Lifelong Learning Center and new Office 2010 textbooks


New policy 5118 elementary and secondary: gang activity


Unfinished business
New business


Future agenda items


Recognition - 4:15 p.m.


Ruth Ann Hall awards


Outstanding vice principal award


Outstanding support staff awards


Resolution - Charles County Teacher of the Year - Stephanie Fara Harris-Walent, language arts teacher, Milton M. Somers Middle School


Employees retirement resolution


Public Forum - 6 p.m.


Action items

• Minutes
• Personnel
• Handwriting changes
• Educational facilities master plan
• FY 2011 intercategory budget change

Adjournment

Measuring Teacher Effectiveness: Are We Creating an Education Nightmare?

Patricia Deubel
thejournal.com
June 8, 2011

We seem to be setting ourselves up for disaster education. Efforts are underway not only to adopt value-added models to rate the effectiveness of individual teachers, but to use these models to identify those at the very bottom who might later lose their positions and those at the very top who might then be eligible for merit pay. Yet in all the policy discussions and public commentary, there's been little focus on learners and on how, precisely, we define the qualities of a good teacher.

The movement to revise methods for teacher evaluation to include such models came about in an effort to undermine current evaluation systems that tend to rate most teachers as satisfactory (Hull, 2011).

Educators are concerned because their evaluations will be tied to results of their students’ standardized testing, which are used in value-added calculations, while other factors, such as experience and training, are diminished. There's concern that the increase in testing that will be required to use those models to rate all teachers might come at the expense of learners, taking the joy out of learning and making it boring, as President Obama pointed out ("Remarks," 2011). And there's concern about our lack of agreement on what it means to be an effective educator.

The need for highly effective teachers is a given. But when, as part of the discussion, I heard policy makers and business leaders proclaim that experience and advanced degrees do not necessarily matter in teaching (Strauss, 2010), I took a look at my own career--which began about four decades ago--and concluded that I do not agree. Questions came to mind regarding the nature of teaching and to what degree value-added models could really help school districts identify teacher effectiveness to merit changing existing compensation systems that have traditionally been based on experience and degrees.

Read more HERE.

Md. teacher evaluation redesign bogs down

Michael Alison Chandler
The Washington Post
June 4, 2011

Last summer, Maryland won a $250 million federal grant with a promise to build a model to evaluate teachers and principals that would be “transparent and fair” and tie their success for the first time to student test scores and learning.

Now, the state that prides itself on cutting-edge practices and top-in-the-nation schools is struggling — along with every state or school system that has ever tried — to come up with a reliable formula for improving the teacher workforce and rooting out the lowest performers.

Bogged down by political infighting, large gaps in technical know-how and regulatory hurdles, Maryland recently applied for a year’s extension to fully execute the evaluation system it has yet to develop.

“We knew this was going to be very difficult,” said state Superintendent of Schools Nancy S. Grasmick, who is requesting that the evaluations not carry consequences for teachers and principals until 2013-14, so schools will have more time to train and experiment. “If it rolls out too soon, it won’t be done well, and there will be reactions from teachers that this is a half-baked idea.”

Read more HERE.

Dozens of Md. children treated after heat exposure

Darci Marchese contributed to this report.
WTOP.com
June 9, 2011

WALDORF, Md. - Several dozen elementary and middle school students in southern Maryland have been taken to hospitals after they reported feeling ill because of the heat.

William Stephens, director of emergency services for Charles County, says the students were overcome by heat Thursday morning while attending an event at a semi-pro baseball stadium.

The students were on a field trip at the Regency Stadium in Waldorf, Md. for a "baseball and education day," said Keith Lupton, stadium general manager.

County spokeswoman Crystal Hunt says a total of 72 children were taken to area hospitals and 10 were treated at the scene. All of the students have since been released, Hunt says.

Stephens says he can't remember an event of a similar magnitude in his 25 years on the job.

Former Charles County school employee pleads guilty

Barnes-Thomas admits to purchasing electronics through Title I funds

SoMdNews.com
Tuesday, June 7, 2001
Gretchen Phillips, Staff Writer

The former Charles County public school employee who was charged for illegally using thousands of federal education funds to purchase electronics for her personal use pleaded guilty in federal court today.

Rhayda Barnes-Thomas, 41, of Accokeek pleaded guilty to theft involving a federal government program, in connection with a scheme to use federal funds received by Charles County Public Schools to purchase technology items such as iPods, computers and televisions for herself, friends and family, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.

According to the release, Barnes-Thomas admitted to stealing more than $5,000 worth of property purchased using federal funds between 2009 and January 2011.

Read more HERE.