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AYP Parent Letter YR2 High School

October 30, 2015

October 30,  2015

Dear Parents and Patrons:

The purpose of this letter is to inform you that according to 2014-2015 state student assessment results Niobrara High School is in Year 2 of Title I School Improvement for the 2014-2015 school year under the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law. Schools are expected to make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) toward that goal. The state goal for last year was to have 100% of all students in grades 3-8, & 11, be proficient on the reading and math standards.  Niobrara High School has not made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for three consecutive years. Niobrara High School continues to strive to meet state AYP goals in reading and math.  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 at:  :  http://www.education.ne.gov/documents/SOSR.html. 

Niobrara High 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 elementary 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 team has selected a new program to implement beginning with the 2015-2016 school year. Student test scores, state assessment scores, school board input, and teacher input were all considered in making this decision.

Because Niobrara High School has been identified as a school “in need of improvement” it must offer Public School Choice. However, because Niobrara High School is the only high school in our district there is no transfer option available to our students.

This identification also requires Niobrara High School to provide Supplemental Educational Services (SES) to eligible students (students who qualify for the free and reduced lunch program).   Enclosed is a list of SES providers that have been approved by the State Department of Education that could provide tutoring services for your child.   Parents who choose to have their children participate in SES are asked to contact the Niobrara High School office at (402) 857-3322 by December 30 to enroll.  A second enrollment window will be offered later in the school year.  Once notice has been received, we will make enrollment arrangements as quickly as possible and will notify parents upon approval.  Below is the link to a  list of approved providers. http://www.education.ne.gov/federalprograms/Documents/Title%20IG%20School%20Improvement/sesproviders%2015-16%20Final.doc

We welcome your involvement at Niobrara High 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 High School held its annual meeting to develop our parent involvement policy and to review parent rights under Title I and other information May 21, 2015. The Title I district-wide parent involvement policy was reviewed this past spring and will again be reviewed this upcoming spring 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 Mrs. Guenther.  Please continue to work with us to make sure that we achieve success for every student.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Guenther

Principal