MISD Receives Accountability Rating from Texas Education Agency

Midlothian ISD News Release
From: Dr. J.D. Kennedy
Superintendent of Schools
September 30, 2004

For the first time since 1998, Midlothian ISD will not have a Recognized rating. We have been assigned the accountability rating of Academically Acceptable for the 2003-2004 school year.

At the campus level, the following accountability ratings are:

High School Academically Acceptable
Middle School Academically Acceptable
J.A. Vitovsky Recognized
T.E. Baxter Elementary Academically Acceptable
J.R. Irvin Elementary Exemplary
Longbranch Elementary Exemplary
Mt. Peak Elementary Recognized

These are the first ratings issued under the state’s redesigned accountability system, which is now based on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) scores, high school completion rates, and annual dropout rates. The TAKS test assesses at a higher level than the TAAS test ever did, just as TAAS was at a higher level than TABS. However, in spite of this change, I am personally disappointed with us no longer being a Recognized school district. The Academically Acceptable rating is not acceptable to me.

Regardless of our drop in the accountability rating, our TAKS scores in 23 out of 25 subgroups in five academic areas improved from 2002-2003. We have made progress in all but 2 subgroup areas. Our highest area of improvement was 24% for African Americans in Reading/ELA.

So why are we not a recognized district? First of all, we probably would not have been recognized last year if the 2002-2003 scores were counted, but they were not because it was a year of transition from TAAS to TAKS. For 2003-2004 we had two subject areas of concern. The first subject area was in Math with 55% of the African American subgroup, passing, but the standard for being Recognized was 70%. Fortunately, we did gain 4 points in this subgroup over last year. The other subject area of concern was in Science with 66% of the Economically Disadvantaged students passing, which increased 11 points over last year.

We will continue to implement throughout the year the following activities focused on Math and Science at both the District and Campus levels immediately:
• Engage in an in-depth study to determine needs utilizing the TAKS disaggregation methodology developed by Margaret Kilgo.
• Revisit curriculum alignment in specific areas
• Examine course sequences
• Utilize benchmarks to develop formative information and closely monitor target areas and students for tutorials and re-teach
• Design/develop, implement, and share effective engaging lessons for students in target areas
• Examine and utilize current materials which address TEKS and TAKS at the student expectation level
• Secure and utilize manipulative and lab materials in both Math and Science
• Visit successful campuses
• Provide staff development

We will also continue to stress and emphasize the Reading/LA and Social Studies to maintain our scores and to meet the new standards for next year. It takes great effort to maintain good scores and we must continue in these areas by implementing many of the same strategies I mentioned previously regarding Science and Math.

We will develop a TAKS plan at the District level, which will be incorporated into the District Improvement Plan, and we will develop TAKS plans at each campus for each subject area, which will be incorporated into the Campus Improvement Plan.

I am confident that the steps that we are taking will improve the academic performance of our students. I commit to you that this Administration will do what ever it can to help provide teachers the tools they need to be successful. Working together as a Midlothian Team, we can accomplish our goals.

Collaboration and teamwork with every member of the staff being involved is critical to this effort. We know that the staff of MISD will accept the challenge and we will roll up our sleeves as we work together this year to challenge our students to reach the level of performance that they are capable of achieving.

- Dr. J.D. Kennedy