Salem Community Patriot | April 6, 2012 - 5 Release of the 2012 Adequate Yearly Progress Reports


submitted by NH Department of Education Commissioner Virginia M. Barry, Ph.D. has announced the release of 2012 Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) reports for New Hampshire schools and school districts including the preliminary designations for new schools and districts in need of improvement (SINIs and DINIs). “Over seventy percent of schools and sixty-fi ve percent of districts failed to make AYP in 2012. This is ample evidence that the accountability system is broken, not that the vast majority of schools in New Hampshire are failing,” stated Commissioner Barry. “In New Hampshire we need an accountability system that rewards the great schools and accurately identifi es those schools and districts that need our support,” Commissioner Barry added. The 2012 AYP Reports are based on the October 2011 New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) results for grades three through eight and eleven, together with the 2010-2011 NH Alternate Learning Progressions Assessment (NH-ALPs) results for grades two through seven and ten, and the Class of 2011 graduation rate. AYP is calculated through an index system, with schools and districts receiving full credit for each student that scores profi cient or better and partial credit for student scores below profi cient. To make AYP, a school or district must meet performance targets established for students in reading and mathematics, as well as meet state targets for student NECAP participation, attendance, and graduation (at high school only). Student performance is summarized for the whole school and subgroups of students including, by race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, educational disability, and non- or limited- English profi cient. To make AYP a school or district must meet the targets in every category (NECAP


participation, performance, and graduation/attendance) for every subgroup. To comply with the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), all students within a school and district must demonstrate profi ciency by 2013-2014. One hundred and twenty-one (26%) schools made AYP in all areas measured and 332 (71%) schools did not make AYP in one or more areas. The remaining 12 (3%) schools are subject to review until AYP can be calculated (some of these are very small schools which complicates calculations of AYP). In addition, 27 (33%) high schools missed the graduation rate target, and one elementary school missed for its attendance rate. Schools not making AYP for two consecutive years in the same content (i.e. reading or math) area are designated a School in Need of Improvement (SINI). Based on the 2012 AYP results, thirty schools are identifi ed as new SINIs, increasing the total number of schools identifi ed for improvement to 330 (71%). Schools not making AYP have 30 days to fi le an appeal with the State Department of Education. Five schools in need of improvement made AYP for the second consecutive year, and therefore exited improvement status: Lin- Wood Elementary, Pittsfi eld Middle School, Sanbornton Central School, School Street School in Rochester, and White Mountains Regional High School. To calculate AYP at the district level, student data are aggregated


by grade span groupings: elementary/middle (grades three through eight) and high school (grade 11), and then compared to the performance targets in reading and mathematics. For the district to receive a negative AYP designation, both grade span groups must


Snacks with the Easter Bunny


submitted by Lauren Adams The Simon Kidgits Club continued the Easter celebration and hosted


Snacks with the Easter Bunny on Saturday, March 31 at The Mall at Rockingham Park.


fail to make AYP in the same content area. Districts not making AYP for two consecutive years in the same content area are identifi ed as Districts In Need of Improvement (DINI). Of the 161 AYP district reports issued, 52 (32%) districts made


AYP and 107 (66%) did not make AYP, with two (2%) districts in need of additional review and not receiving an AYP determination at this time. An analysis of the new results shows that two districts made AYP for the second consecutive year and exited improvement status: Newmarket and White Mountains Regional Districts. Sixteen new districts are preliminarily identifi ed as in need of


improvement, increasing the number of districts in improvement to 101 (63%). The appeal process and timeline for districts is similar to the process provided for schools. In accordance with state and federal law, SINIs and DINIs must develop improvement plans focused on the category (or categories) that resulted in a failure to meet AYP targets.


Deputy Commissioner Paul Leather noted, “New Hampshire is nationally recognized for innovative practices, including course competencies. AYP as an accountability system does not capture the performance of our schools and districts in implementing these practices, which is why the Department is working closely with our schools around the future of accountability.” Individual school and district reports, together with SINI and DINI information, and additional information about understanding AYP can be found at www.education.nh.gov/instruction/accountability/ ayp/2012.htm.


Angelo Tores, 5, of Salem shows off the Easter basket creation he made at the Kidgits Snacks with the Easter Bunny event at the Mall at Rockingham Park.


Anthony, 7, Angelo, 5, and Giovanni Tores of Salem enjoy the Kidgits Easter Celebration at the Mall at Rockingham Park and show their love for the movie HOP!


Jack Dinsmore, 2, of Salem, at the Mall at Rockingham Park playing with a truck from Josh’s Toys & Games and wearing bunny ears he made at the Kidgits Easter event.


Easter Bunny Mall 2: Jack Dinsmore, 2, of Salem poses with the Easter bunny at the Kidgits Easter Celebration at the Mall at Rockingham Park!


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Juliette Fletcher, 2, of Tewksbury, MA, digs into her Easter basket for more treats at the Kidgits Snacks with the Easter Bunny event at the Mall at Rockingham Park.


Accepting Donations for the


Spring Sports Equipment Swap submitted by Boys & Girls Club, Salem Back by popular demand! The Boys & Girls Club of Salem will host its Spring Sports Swap. The


swap will be held on Sunday, May 6, 12-4 p.m. in the Eclipse Teen Center at the Boys and Girls Club located at 33 Geremonty Drive in Salem. The Club is accepting donations now thru May 4 of all “previously enjoyed” or new sporting goods for all seasons. All donations can be dropped off at the Club Monday through Friday between 1 and 8 p.m. The idea of the swap is to get sports equipment that isn’t being used into the hands of children who will use the equipment. Children attending the swap can come in and pick up any equipment they may need and the cost is free. Ideally, people will trade in equipment they no longer use or outgrew and continue to donate it back. This cycle will allow this event to continue. Cash donations are also optional, with 100 percent coming back to the Boys & Girls Club of Salem. Thank you for your continued support and for giving children the equipment to follow their dreams. Questions may be directed to Joshua Perreault at 898-7709, ext. 11 or jperreault@salembgc.org.


Jake Rowell enjoying last season’s swap! 151 Main Street, Suite 4, Salem, NH


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Photos by Kimberly Plourde


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