Tag: Assessment

Tustumena Elementary is Recognized as a 2019 National ESEA Distinguished School

Join the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District to celebrate Tustumena Elementary educators, students, and families! One hundred schools nationwide earned recognition as a National ESEA Distinguished School in 2019, and Tustumena Elementary School is recognized in the category of exceptional student performance for two or more consecutive years!

In the small coastal area of Kasilof, Alaska, Principal Doug Hayman often refers to Tustumena Elementary School as Camelot. With a population of 549 (2010), a post office, mercantile, gas station, church, and school tucked along the aquamarine Kasilof River flowing to Cook Inlet, the staff and 145 students and their families make the school the place to gather, connect, and learn.

“Relationships between the teachers and the parents at Tustumena Elementary is strong, and by working together to promote this strong bond, we have developed an atmosphere that leads to success. Tustumena has always provided the best education possible. In order to do this, we have worked to keep class sizes down, meet the needs of all students, and draw the best teachers available. The test scores in recent years have shown that all of these factors and more have helped Tustumena become an extremely successful school. Data driven decision-making has been an important part of our overall school planning. Regular Benchmark testing fuels our Intervention process. Beginning with the first I-Team Day and ending with the last day of school, the Intervention and Special Education programs are key to assuring that all students are getting their individual instructional needs met.”

Principal Doug Hayman

Tustumena Elementary School and Evergreen Elementary School in the Wrangell School District were the two Alaska schools named National ESEA Distinguished Schools by the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development.

“It is an honor to recognize these two outstanding schools in our state. Both Tustumena Elementary and Evergreen Elementary have demonstrated effective strategies to ensure student success. I am proud to congratulate the educators, students, and families of these communities on the recognition of their hard work and dedication to Alaska’s students.”  

Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) Commissioner Johnson

Alaska identifies eligible schools for the award based on their students’ performance on the Performance Evaluation for Alaska’s Schools (PEAKS) assessment in English language arts (ELA) and Mathematics. Identified schools chose to apply for the honor, providing evidence of effectiveness in evidence-based instructional strategies; providing opportunities for all children to achieve; coordination of Title I with other programs; professional development of staff; and partnerships with parents, families, and communities.

“The faculty at Tustumena has long been recognized in the community for the steadfast dedication to students and their families. It is exciting to see them being recognized at the state and national level for the academic outcomes resulting from that dedication. To be recognized as having high student performance for two or more years is especially impressive because the PEAKS assessment has undergone some changes. While other schools in the state have grappled with declining student performance due to the academically challenging standards we have here in Alaska, it is worthy of celebrating that students in the KPBSD, and at Tustumena Elementary, especially, are doing so well as they advance toward the opportunities their futures will hold!”

Dr. Christine Ermold, KPBSD Director of Federal Programs and Professional Development

photos: Tustumena Elementary, December 2019, Pegge Erkeneff, KPBSD

About ESEA Distinguished Schools Program
www.ESEAnetwork.org.
The National Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Distinguished Schools Program is a project of the National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators that publicly recognizes schools for their positive educational services. It highlights the efforts of schools across the country making significant improvements for their students. Because only two schools per state can be selected as a National ESEA Distinguished School each year, this award is an especially prestigious honor for the schools, staff, and students.

In the KPBSD, Tustumena Elementary joins Nikolaevsk School which was recognized in 2015.

Links

PEAKS student results now in PowerSchool for parents

PEAKS-logo 2019
AKScience-logo 2019
September 5, 2019
Dear KPBSD parents and guardians,
The 2019 Spring Performance Evaluation for Alaska’s School (PEAKS) student results is available for your review on September 6, 2019, in the PowerSchool Parent Portal.*

“PEAKS is one assessment used to help provide a picture of how our students are doing to meet state standards,” said Superintendent John O’Brien. “PEAKS is significantly more in line with national expectations and even though we do not receive district data on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), we believe our results on NAEP would mirror PEAKs results. We are proud of what our students accomplish with the education they receive in our schools and that they are ready for life, college, and career when they earn a KPBSD diploma.”

If you have any questions, kindly contact your child’s school. The State of Alaska PEAKS webpage offers additional information you may find helpful, and you can read the KPBSD letter to parents from the Director of Assessments for additional information from the school district.
*instructions to locate the report in PowerSchool
Sincerely,
Assessment Department, Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
www.KPBSD.org
Opt-in to receive SMS messages from KPBSD, if you have a cellular phone number listed in your PowerSchool contact, Text Y or YES to 67587.
The mission of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is to empower all learners to positively shape their futures.
 
KPBSD logo

School progress reports in new Alaska System for School Success

October 23, 2018: The new System for School Success Reports accountability system for public schools in the State of Alaska released reports for the 2017-2018 school year. The rating system for schools is a federal requirement of Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), and the new accountability system replaces the Alaska State Performance Index (ASPI) star rating classification.

Superintendent Sean Dusek explains: “The State of Alaska has rolled out the results of our new school accountability system. The majority of our schools are doing very well and while every school is working hard to improve, we have some schools that will develop plans to address specific areas identified through their designation. I appreciate the efforts of our staff in ensuring high student academic achievement and the attitude of continuous improvement.  We look forward to next year’s results as we expect even more student learning growth.”

The new accountability system ranks schools on a 100-point scale, based on student growth and proficiency in state assessments, chronic absenteeism, high school graduation, and student growth in learning English for students identified as English Language Learners (ELL). Based on the 100-point scale, schools receive an index score every year.
DEED School Systems for Success
The new system does not focus exclusively on a test score, and includes additional indicators for student success. Five indicators are assessed for K-6 grades, and six are assessed for 7-12 grades. Several rules have been established to protect student privacy and to be fair to all schools.
Indicators for all grade levels K-6 are based on a 100-point scale:

  1. Academic Achievement English Language Arts Proficiency and Math Proficiency: 15% each (30%)
  2. Academic Growth in English Language Arts and Math: 20% each (40%)
  3. English Learner Progress: 15%
  4. Chronic Absenteeism: 10%
  5. Grade 3 English Language Proficiency: 5%

Indicators for grade levels 7-12 are based on a 100-point scale:

  1. Academic Achievement ELA and Math: 10% each (20%)
  2. Academic Growth ELA and Math: 20% each (40%)
  3. English Learner Progress: 10%
  4. Chronic Absenteeism: 10%
  5. 4-year Graduation Rate: 15%
  6. 5-year Graduation Rate: 5%

Meeting these indicators is in alignment with the KPBSD five-year strategic plan.
The indicator index applies to the student body as a whole and to subgroups that have at least five students. The subgroups are: students with disabilities, English language learners, economically disadvantaged students, Alaska Natives and American Indians, Caucasians, African-Americans, Hispanics, Mixed Race, and Asian/Pacific Islanders.

Alaska Education Commissioner Dr. Michael Johnson explains, “There are three types of school designations: Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI), Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI), and Universal Support. The primary purpose of these school designations is to provide information for families, tribes, communities, educators, and policy makers to plan and support an equitable education for each student in Alaska’s public school system.”

In the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, two schools are designated CSI, two schools are designated TSI, one school is pending, and 38 schools receive the Universal Support designation. The 2017-2018 results can be viewed online.
Parents will continue to receive reports on their student’s performance on state English Language Arts and Math assessments. Questions about specific school accountability reports can be asked directly to school principals.
Web Links

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KPBSD

Parents: will your child be four by September 1? #PreK

News ReleaseKPBSD logo 4c no tag SMALL
Pre-Kindergarten Title I assessments take place in April and May

 
Soldotna, March 27, 2017—Children who will be four years old by September 1, 2017, have an opportunity to attend pre-kindergarten classes at their local area school in the fall. To qualify for the classes, parents and guardians must contact their local area school to schedule a Pre-K assessment, and complete an application prior to the school screening appointment date.

  • Title I funded Pre-K programs available at specific sites in the KPBSD provide an excellent opportunity for children who turn four by September 1, 2017, to get a jumpstart on success in school
  • KPBSD’s Pre-K teachers are all certified and have specialized training in early childhood education
  • Programs are engaging and developmentally appropriate, with an emphasis on preparing children to be successful when they enter
  • Pre-K the KPBSD Way focuses on experiences that facilitate each child’s growth in the targeted areas of social and emotional development; approaches to learning; communication, language, literacy; cognitive development, and physical well-being.

 

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Parent or guardian action steps

  1. Contact local attendance area school for times and testing locations. (See alphabetical list of schools offering Pre-K sessions*)
  2. Complete a Pre-K Application—the school office in your attendance area will provide applications
  3. Return the application to your neighborhood school office during school hours
  4. Schedule your child’s assessment prior to the date for your neighborhood (Dates listed below)
  5. Children must be age 4 by September 1, 2017
  6. Title I KPBSD programs web link: Title 1 programs at KPBSD

 

*KPBSD Title I Elementary Schools and Screening dates

Students qualify for Title I services based on academic need

  • Chapman Elementary, 235-8671, May 1, 2017
  • Mountain View Elementary, 283-8600, May 3, 2017
  • Nikiski North Star Elementary, 776-2600, April 27, 2017
  • Ninilchik School, 567-3301, May 2, 2017
  • Paul Banks Elementary, 226-1801, April 13, 2017
  • Redoubt Elementary, 260-4300, April 24, 2017
  • Seward Elementary, 224-3356, April 28, 2017
  • Soldotna Elementary, 260-5100, April 26, 2017
  • Sterling Elementary, 262-4944, May 9, 2017
  • Tustumena Elementary, 260-1345, April 25, 2017
  • Voznesenka School, 235-8549, April 5, 2017

Title I programs are required to utilize effective, research based instruction, and must also provide evidence that students receiving Title I support are showing academic growth.
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This and all KPBSD media releases are online at this web page: http://bit.ly/MediaPublicRelationships
Suggest or contribute a story online link: http://bit.ly/SuggestKPBSDstory

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, Communications Liaison, Communications@KPBSD.org,  907.714.8888
 

FAQs: Alaska Measures of Progress (AMP) Assessment

PrintKPBSD Information
Alaska Measures of Progress (AMP) Assessment FAQs

Soldotna, April 2, 2015—The annual student assessment required by state law to meet federal requirements takes place for our students in grades 3 through 10 between March 30 and May 1, 2015. In 2015, the Alaska Measures of Progress (AMP) assessment replaced the Standards Based Assessment (SBA). With AMP, students will take two tests—English language arts and math–instead of three, with fewer questions overall.*
Several questions have been asked about the type of data and personal information that is collected in the AMP assessment—it is the same as has been collected by SBAs and other state assessments since 2005. To note:

  • “Basic student information and student test scores are collected. Basic student information includes the student’s name, Alaska student ID number, and specific demographic information. EED does not collect sensitive information such as physical addresses, mailing addresses, or Social Security numbers.”*
  • “No data about individual students is ever given to the federal government. No data is sold to companies.”*
  • “Individual student test data is provided to the student’s school district to inform instruction. Only authorized school district staff that have a legitimate educational interest (such as the student’s teacher or principal) may see a student’s data.”*

Please contact your school principal with any questions or concerns about the AMP assessment.
April 2015: AMP FAQ sheet from KPBSD
 *LINKS from the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
EED: FAQs about Student Assessment Data
EED: For Parents: Why We Test
EED: 10 Benefits of New Assessment
EED: AMP Resources
EED: Requirement to Test Students on Statewide Assessments
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Become fluent: KPBSD English Language Learner program

February 2015KPBSD 50 years logo
KPBSD’s English Language Learner (ELL) program has seen a 55 percent increase in the number of Limited English Proficient (LEP) students in the district since 2010. Currently:

  • 286 LEP students are enrolled across 34 KPBSD schools
  • 23 languages are represented in the following categories:
    • Eastern European-Russian
    • Asian-SE Asian
    • Northern European
    • Pacific Islander
    • Native Alaskan
  • 23 ELL paraprofessionals base their support activities on students’ specific academic needs

Administration of the annual English proficiency assessment, ACCESS, is currently underway. State and federal requirements include the administration of this annual test. The test:

  • Measures student progress
  • Determines students’ eligibility to be reclassified as non-LEP (LEP students who pass the test are exited from LEP status)
  • Gives educators valuable information to inform their teaching
  • Gives the ELL office information that can be used to determine relevant professional development and possible program modifications

This is the last year the assessment will be administered in paper-pencil format. Next year, the test will be taken online (with the exception of the Kindergarten test).
Links