The Texas Education Agency (TEA) released accountability and ranking data this afternoon at 1:30 pm. We have received an advanced communication of this information and I wanted you to know how our campuses have fared on the rating criteria.

 This is our last year as an elementary only district and as such, our campus ratings are based solely on student performance on TAKS. Hart Elementary will continue to be rated as an Exemplary Campus. In order for a campus to be rated as exemplary, the campus must ensure that at least 90% of all tested students meet standard on each academic area. Hart was at the 90% mark in each area. 2006 TAKS Data Table can be found at:

http://www.lovejoyisd.net/Uploads/34/misc/2006TAKSDataTable.pdf

Lovejoy Elementary will also be rated as an Exemplary Campus. From the charts below, you will see that the campus posted 90% or better of their students meeting standard on each academic test. 2006 TAKS Data Table can be found at:    

http://www.lovejoyisd.net/Uploads/34/misc/2006TAKSDataTable.pdf

In addition to each campus rating, the district also receives an overall rating. While both campuses are rated as exemplary, Lovejoy ISD will be rated as a Recognized District. As a district, the TEA applies the same criteria to determine the district rating as the campus rating. However, in addition to student performance on TAKS, Lovejoy ISD has enough students taking the State Developed Alternate Assessment (SDAA II) to meet minimum size requirements for that data set to be included in the final ranking. In order for the SDAA II test to be included, a district or campus must have at least 30 SDAA II tests given including all subject areas. The Lovejoy ISD had 17 special education students take 31 SDAA II tests and we did not meet the required 90% standard. As you see below, the district met the 90% standard in all TAKS tested areas, but only 84% met committee expectation on the SDAA II. ( 26 SDAA II tests out of 31  tests attempted). 2006 TAKS Data Table can be found at:

http://www.lovejoyisd.net/Uploads/34/misc/2006TAKSDataTable.pdf

The SDAA II has been the state's avenue to test special education students at their appropriate instructional level. The committee that develops the Individual Education Plan (IEP) for each special education child must determine the grade level of the SDAA II taken and this same committee must determine the achievement level. Determining the level is relatively straightforward because you test children on the same level that you are teaching them. The committee also looks at each child individually to determine if they are ready to meet standard on the assessment, if they are approaching the met standard level, or if they are just beginning to work on these skills. The committee predicts the expected achievement level and if the student's performance meets or exceeds the committee's expectation, it is considered a passing performance and if the performance falls below the expectation, then it is considered as a below standard performance.

This is the last year for the SDAA II because the State of Texas is moving us to program for as many students as possible on grade level curriculum. More special education students in the future will be taking TAKS and I believe that is a good thing. All school districts including Lovejoy ISD will be held accountable to provide the level of support required for learning different students to meet the appropriate grade level standards. As a parent of two sons with learning disabilities, I believe a school system should provide learning for all students that is aligned to grade level standards and the school must increase the level of support required for all to be successful on those standards. As parents and as a community, you can rest assured that Lovejoy ISD will not negotiate the standards down, but rather ratchet up the support for each child.

If you have specific questions about student performance or our new ranking, please email me or call my office at 469-742-8011.

With Respect,

Ted Moore

Superintendent

Lovejoy ISD