Duanesburg Middle School named a School in Need of Improvement

December 5, 2011

In November, the New York State Education Department released its annual accountability status of schools and districts under Title I. According to the report, Duanesburg Middle School has been designated as a School in Need of Improvement (SINI).

The SINI designation means that the school did not make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) on New York State standardized tests in one student subgroup for two consecutive years. In this case, Duanesburg MS students with disabilities subgroup did not achieve AYP in English Language Arts for both the 2010 and 2011 assessment cycle. Duanesburg High School and Elementary School are currently listed in good standing.

This designation alone does not indicate that Duanesburg Middle School is a failing school. Rather, it provides information for principals, teachers and parents on the areas of the academic program that can be improved.

“This is the first time our school has been designated as a SINI,” says Principal Penny Hardenstine. “We don’t see this as a setback, rather we see this as an opportunity to learn more about the areas in which improvement is needed and to put a plan in place that offers our students opportunities for improvement. Our goal is provide a quality education for all students so they can continue to achieve success.”

As a result of the SINI designation, Hardenstine and other school leaders will be performing a School Quality Review—a comprehensive self-evaluation of the school’s instructional delivery model—to identify where teachers need to focus their efforts. Additionally, Duanesburg has already put in place a literacy coach and a Special Education Services Instructional Specialist (SESIS) who have been working with the district’s special education teachers and ELA teachers to guide them in modifying their instructional techniques to better meet the needs of the students they serve.

Upon completion of the School Quality Review, school leaders are required to submit a Comprehensive Education Plan to the New York State Education Department outlining its findings as well as a detailed list of planned improvements to the school program.

“We’ve always been committed to providing every child a quality education and helping all students reach high standards of achievement,” said Superintendent Christine Crowley. “We will continue to make every effort to provide the most effective instruction possible to help each and every one of our students reach their fullest potential.”

In order to no longer be considered a School in Need of Improvement, Duanesburg Middle School special education students will need to make AYP for two years in a row in ELA.

Tutoring services will be provided to any student in this subgroup. Please contact Middle School Principal Penny Hardenstine to learn more about the available and approved tutoring services. She can be reached at phardenstine@duanesburg.org or at 895-3000 ext. 233. Or visit this websites for a list of approved SES providers: www.p12.nysed.gov/nclb/ses/ApprovedProviders/AlphaList.html. Or this website for a list of approved SES providers by location: www.p12.nysed.gov/nclb/ses/ApprovedProviders/LocationList.html.

Common Q & A

What is “SINI” status?
“SINI” stands for “School in Need of Improvement.” It is a designation based on whether a school was deemed to have made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) toward achievement of the New York State Standards. AYP is one of the cornerstones of the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001. It is a measure of student achievement on statewide tests in relation to a pre-determined achievement value (Annual Measurable Objective) as set by the state. Title I schools (schools receiving specific federal funding to address the needs of low-income populations) that do not meet the state standard for AYP for two or more consecutive years in the same subgroup are designated as schools in need of improvement.

How did Duanesburg Middle School receive the SINI designation?
Duanesburg Middle School was identified as a SINI because it failed to make AYP on New York State standardized tests in one student subgroup for two consecutive years. In this case, students with disabilities subgroup did not achieve AYP in English Language Arts for the second year in a row. All other Duanesburg schools are currently in good standing.

In order for a school as a whole to make AYP, each school subgroup must meet or exceed the effective Annual Measurable Objective on statewide assessments. There are several factors to consider when talking about the students with disabilities subgroup: First, all students, including students with disabilities, are held to the same academic standards by the state. Secondly, in 2009-10, the state ended its use of a statistical adjustment for the students with disabilities subgroup which in turn has made it more difficult for this group to demonstrate AYP.

As we near 2013-14—the year in which all students in all subgroups must be proficient under NCLB—the expected yearly increase in performance will be incredibly difficult to attain. For example, the number of schools and districts that were newly identified for improvement throughout the state this year is unprecedented. Last year, 102 schools and 4 school districts were newly identified for improvement; this year the number of newly identified schools increased to 847 and the number of newly identified districts increased to 89. This trend will likely continue as state assessments are made more rigorous for all students in all subgroups in order to align to the new Common Core Standards beginning in 2012-13.

What is Duanesburg doing to improve student achievement in the middle school?
While the SINI designation is based on testing results from a subgroup that contains 29 students at the middle school, the district is using the situation as an opportunity to make changes geared toward raising the academic proficiency of all students.

Middle School Principal Penny Hardenstine and other school leaders are taking a comprehensive look at the school’s instructional delivery, with a focus on special education and ELA. From that, a Quality Improvement Plan will be developed that will contain measurable goals for the school.
Additionally, middle school teachers are working with a Special Education Services Instructional Specialist and a literacy coach who are providing technical assistance to the district.

What can parents do to help?
Parents are an integral part of ensuring the academic success of their children. Here are some suggestions to help you work with your school and the district to support improvements:
• Be sure that your child comes to school every day and that they arrive on time.
• Contact your child’s teacher or building principal if you have any concerns about their performance at school and/or the school’s educational program.
• Continue to visit the district Web site to learn about our improvement initiatives.
• Contact your child’s principal for additional information about Duaneburg’s improvement initiatives.
• Talk with district staff about school improvement plans.
• Volunteer with the PTA, Sports Boosters, Music Boosters or other school/parent organizations, or volunteer in your child’s classroom.
• Learn more about NCLB requirements and Title I by accessing the NYSED website at http://www.p12.nysed.gov/accountability/TitleI and http://www.p12.nysed.gov/nclb/
• Become aware of strategies to improve student academic achievement. The United States Department of Education Web site offers many helpful publications for parents at www.ed.gov/index.jhtml including a Web site of free academic resources from federal agencies: http://www.free.ed.gov/index.cfm.

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