Klein ISD Board Hears Report on TAKS
All Klein ISD campuses demonstrated improvement in student performance on TAKS from 2007-2008. These new test scores will have an impact on the schools ratings when the Texas Education Agency releases the campus and district report cards in the fall of 2008. On June 10, the Klein ISD Board of Trustees received a report on the district’s 2008 TAKS performance from Mr. Robert Kloppenburg, associate director for assessment and accountability. KISD 2008 TAKS results showed continuous growth and improvement over the past years. Texas school districts and campuses are rated on the TAKS performance of five student groups (All students tested, African American, Hispanic, white and economically disadvantaged) in five subjects (reading/English language arts, mathematics, writing, social studies and science). The district experienced its greatest growth in the number and percentages of students scoring at the commended level on the five tests. Thirty-nine percent of KISD students earned a commended score in English language arts, 33% in mathematics, 37% in writing, 25% in science, and 39% in Social Studies. A commended score indicates that a student answered at least 90-92% of the questions correctly. All five groups recorded growth in reading/English, language arts. Writing scores were consistent with those of 2007. Four of the five groups showed improvement in mathematics and social studies. Groups maintained their 2007 performance in science. The district expects a rating of Academically Acceptable for 2008. All groups must have a 75% passing rate on all 25 academic indicators (5 subgroups x 5 subjects tested) to earn the next highest rating of Recognized. Earning a Recognized rating continues to be a district goal.
Campuses are also rated on group test performance. The district officials are estimating that seven campuses will be rated Exemplary (all groups showing a 90% passing rate), sixteen rated Recognized, and fourteen rated Academically Acceptable. No campuses will be rated Academically Unacceptable on the basis of the twenty-five academic indicators. The Texas Education Agency will officially announce district and campus ratings August 1. If the official ratings match the district’s calculations, the new 2008 scores will have a positive impact on school ratings. Using formulas provided by the Texas Education Agency, the results would mean that the number of exemplary schools would increase from to 2 to 7 campuses, the number of recognized schools would increase from 13 to 16 campuses, and the number of acceptable campuses would be 14. No campuses would be
rated as academically unacceptable. Should the estimated ratings become official, the Klein ISD will realize improvements in ratings at 13 campuses. Ms. Susan Borg, associate superintendent for instruction and student services, reports that the following measures are in place to increase students’ academic success: District Wide Instructional Strategies • Marzano's Building Academic Vocabulary emphasis • Integration of instructional specialist programs • Integration of curriculum and technology training • Expansion of Professional Learning Communities training • Technical assistance teams • Expansion of RTI (Response to Intervention) to provide a tiered system of intervention for students who need support to succeed • INOVA data analysis to assist teachers in individualizing instruction • Increase focused professional development
Intermediate and Secondary Instructional Strategies • Expansion of AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) to encourage advanced academics • Expansion of Pre-Advanced Placement (AP) to prepare students for rigorous AP courses • Secondary math and science curriculum action teams • Curriculum revisions on district TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills) targets Elementary Instructional Strategies • Bilingual/ESL action team • Reading comprehension in science Klein Forest Feeder Pattern Instructional Strategies • DATE (District Awards for Teaching Excellence) Grant to reward teachers for students’ academic success • BTIM Grant (Beginning Teacher Induction/Mentors) to build teaching skills Patrons may view the Power Point presentation that was presented at the June Board of Trustees meeting on the Klein ISD website www.kleinisd.net.