April
30, 2010
Title
I Public Announcement
The No Child Left Behind Act
(NCLB) requires the South Carolina Department of Education (SDE)
to review annually the performance of each school district in the state
that receives Title I federal funds. The results of this review are
reported on the district report card as the district’s adequate yearly
progress (AYP). Using student performance data and other indicators
such as attendance or graduation, a district is identified for district
improvement if it does not make AYP for two or more consecutive years.
The state absolute and improvement ratings also found on the district
report card are not related to NCLB and have no impact on the district
being identified for district improvement under NCLB. These state ratings
are part of the state’s Education Accountability Act.
For the 2008-09 school year,
Darlington School District (DCSD) did not make AYP and has been identified
for District Improvement, corrective action. Information regarding the
district’s AYP results can be found on the South Carolina State Department
web site at http://www.ed.sc.gov/topics/assessment/scores/ayp/2009. As shown on this report, the
district did not meet AYP for the following subgroups.
DCSD did not
meet ELA academic performance in the category of African American
students, disabled students and students on subsidized meals. The district
did not meet math academic performance in the category of African American
students and disabled students.
There was not a district in
South Carolina that made AYP in 2008-2009. As you see from the chart
below, the percent of all students meeting standard continues to increase.
Once a district is identified
for improvement, the district must make AYP for two years consecutively
to no longer be identified for improvement. Darlington County School
District is committed to the academic improvement of all students. The
action chosen is to defer funds or reduce administrative funds so that
district improvement will continue to focus on improving ELA performance
through developing a framework for a district ELA model. The framework
will include intensive training to ensure all K-8 teachers have the
skills to implement the model and have been provided with the resources
needed. In addition to ELA, math will be strengthened with the update
of the curriculum guides, benchmarks and assessments. Curriculum facilitators
at the elementary and middle levels for schools in restructuring will
continue to provide support.
There is no offer of school choice
or supplemental services related to district improvement under NCLB.
Only schools in school improvement are required to implement choice
and supplemental services. Schools have already completed this process
for the current school year.
As part of our continued effort
to improve the quality of our district, we invite you to participate
in the district improvement process by
- Talking
with school and district staff about the district’s plan to help students meet the state standards
in reading and mathematics;
- Attending
meetings held by the school and district to develop their improvement plans;
- Attending
parent-teacher conferences;
- Visiting
your child’s school; and
- Volunteering.
For
further information about any of the district improvement requirements
or to find out how you can become involved in this effort, please contact
Emily Lunn, Title I Director at (843) 398-5100.