Year 1 AYP Needs Improvement Letter
November 1, 2014
Dear Parents and Patrons:
The purpose of this letter is to inform you that according to 2013-2014 state student assessment results, Niobrara Secondary School is in Year 1 of Title I School Improvement for the 2013-14 school year under the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law. Niobrara Secondary School did not make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for two consecutive years. While Niobrara scores on the NeSA Reading and Mathematics Assessment improved over last year, for the second consecutive year the subgroup of All Students has been listed as not making adequate yearly progress in reading and mathematics. Additional information about how our school compared to other schools in the state is available on the State of the Schools Report on the Nebraska Department of Education web site.
Niobrara Secondary School receives federal funds from the Title I program. These funds help students who are not achieving at grade level in math or reading in high-poverty schools. One requirement of a school identified is to establish an Accountability Compact Team to assist in planning and evaluating strategies for improvement in the secondary school. Members of the team include staff from our district, ESU staff, NDE staff, and a parent from our school district.
We are concerned about the academic progress of all of our students. The School Improvement Team, with district and state assistance, has identified reading as the area of concern and has conducted scientifically based research on new reading interventions. Student test scores, state assessment scores, school board input, and teacher input were all considered in making this decision.
Because Niobrara Secondary has been identified as a school “ in needs of improvement” it must offer Public School Choice. However, because Niobrara Elementary School is the only secondary school in our district there is no transfer option available to our students.
We welcome your involvement at Niobrara Secondary School. There are many ways to participate including offering your input to the School Improvement Team, volunteering, and attending parent conferences with your child’s teacher(s). Other ways to support your child’s success are to assure that your child is prepared, attends school each day, and has completed their homework.
Niobrara Secondary School held its annual meeting to develop our parent involvement policy and to review parent rights under Title I and other information September 25, 2014. The Title I district-wide parent involvement policy was reviewed this past fall and will again be reviewed this upcoming fall on a date to be announced later. You are welcome to be a part of that review process.
If you have questions about this information, please feel free to contact Angie Guenther. Please continue to work with us to make sure that we achieve success for every student.
Sincerely,
Angie Guenther
Secondary Principal
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