Sharing data on student scores among topics at KHSD meeting
| Monday, Oct 05 2009 10:32 PM
Last Updated Monday, Oct 05 2009 10:32 PM
At the Kern High School District board meeting Monday, trustees heard reports about a new administrative policy manual, a football head injury-training course, a data management system, and the district's progress on federal academic standards.
About 50 Ridgeview High seniors enrolled in a Government 12 class also took in the proceedings as part of a class assignment.
Following a two-year review, the district is close to adopting a new numbered system that will allow teachers and administrators access to district and state education codes through an online system.
The district's code hasn't been aligned with state rules, meaning it takes more time to look up a specific code.
"It will give me a quick reference to any question I might have about students, parent interaction, curriculum and instruction," said Fuchsia Ward, director of alternative education in the district.
Forty-four district athletic trainers and directors attended a Hall Ambulance conference to raise awareness about concussions and head injuries that most-often occur at football games.
Assistant Superintendent Joe Thompson briefed the board on KHSD's incremental progress as measured by the federal Academic Yearly Performance (AYP) standards. Student proficiency in math and English has increased districtwide, "but not by what the feds say it should be," said Thompson.
The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law enacted in 2002 sets stringent advancement requirements that many high-performing school districts will no longer be able to meet in years ahead. Word from Washington, D.C., is the law may be scrapped, instead of re-authorized, in favor of a new model that would measure student growth over time.
"We're encouraged by that," said Superintendent Don Carter.
The district uses a data program called Edusoft to track student scores and achievement. The program allows teachers to call up and analyze individual or class scores, and easily align their curriculum and tests to state standards.
Analyzing student data allows teachers to "drill down and see what interventions are needed," Connie Sack, director of instructional services, told the board.
Board member Ken Mettler jumped at the opportunity to bring up curriculum alignment between districts.
What about data sharing between junior highs and the high school district? Mettler asked.
Currently there is no sharing of data, said Sack, who noted that releasing scores that can be tied to teacher performance is a sensitive issue for districts.
Connecting test scores to teacher accountability is a big one on the national education policy stage. Billions in federal funding will be available based on how far states go to enable this type of accountability; the issue is far from being settled.
The more immediate challenge is to put the detailed data to use through better teacher collaboration in every classroom, said Board President Joel Heinrichs.
