First and foremost, Miami Unified School District is not a failing district. Dr. Charles A. Bejarano Elementary School has been labeled as a failing school. Each school receives two seperate labels, one from the Federal Government and one from ADE. Both are tied to No Child Left Behind.
The Federal label is AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress). AYP is based on percent of students tested, if the test objectives were met, and student attendance. Each school must test 95% of students, have 43% or higher competency and improve by 10% each year, Charles A. Bejarano Elementary School did not meet AYP in the 2005-2006 school year, but did in 2004-2005 and 2006-2007.
The ADE label is Excelling, Performing Plus, Performing, Underperforming and Failing. ADE's labels are based on a three-year rolling average and a formula that incorporates current year scores with overall averages. A school earns points based on percent of students that meet or exceeds on the AIMS test and if there was growth over a three year period. Each year the criteria, or cut scores, have changed for schools to be labeled Performing or above. A total point needed to be performing is 13. Dr. Charles Bejarano School scored 12.6, 11.8, and 12.8 in the three years of testing. If a school is Underperforming for three consecutive years, it is labeled as Failing.
When the labels came out last Spring, the principal appealed the rating because several students were listed as attending Dr. Bejarano School an were in fact not our students. The following is a direct quote from ADE concerning the school's status.
"The ADE appeals committee has also reviewed the appeal of your schools AZ LEARNS profile. The committee agrees that the school is moving in the right direction. However, the committee feels that progress alone would not warrant changing your profile. The school will be designated as 'Failing to meet academic standards'."
The ADE Solutions Team came to Dr. Bejarano School January 23 through 25 to interview personnel, parents, and students. The team observed teachers during work hours and made recommendations to ADE.
The recommendations include hiring two ATLAS (mentor) teachers and providing a consulting principal to visit the school on a schedule to be determined for the 2008-2009 school year.
After review, ADE mandated the recommendations. Miami Unified School District has entered into an Intergovernmental Agreement with ADE specifying this mandate.