Avery Misses MCAS Math Mark for Second Year

While summer for school administrators usually is filled by figuring out bus routes, solidifying classes and planning professional development, the Dedham School Department found itself on the defensive in a pair of meetings last week.

In a letter dated Aug. 11, the district notified parents of Avery School students that the elementary school didn't meet its mark for adequate yearly progress in math as part of the No Child Left Behind law.

"It's becoming more and more difficult for schools to make adequate yearly progress," said Cynthia Kelly, assistant superintendent for curriculum.

In a meeting geared toward Avery parents Monday, Kelly unveiled a plan to reverse the "needs improvement" mark the Avery School received when students took the MCAS.

The plan includes:

• A 10-week MCAS preparation program for all Avery students at no cost. Students can attend before and/or after school.
• Increase "uninterrupted time on learning" throughout the district.
• Hire a math coach for the Avery School.
• Additional professional development for Avery School staff.
• Increased communication among parents, teachers and administration.
• Form a remedial program for Avery students who scored in the "warning" and "needs improvement" areas in the 2010 MCAS.

"These are the points that we will commit to," Superintendent June Doe said, adding that more solutions could be included.

The state notified the district one day before the letter was sent, Kelly said.

On the 2010 MCAS math tests, Avery scored an 80 out of 100 on the state's assessment scale. It needed an 84 to meet adequate yearly progress (AYP).

"Avery continues to make progress every year. It just didn't make the progress to meet the line," Kelly told Avery parents.

In order to come out of "needs improvement" status, Avery must hit the 92.2 benchmark for math, a 12-point increase over its 2010 MCAS scores. According to district data, Avery has increased six points in the last four years.

"The bar is being raised, so although Avery continues to improve, the standard they're held to is just a little bit higher," said School Committee Chairman Tom Ryan.

Under federal law, the district has to offer parents the choice to move their child to another school in the district. The law applies to schools that receive Title I funding, which is tied to the number of low-income students in a school.

Parents spent last week – and school officials admitted some would be given additional time – debating themselves and each other on the best option.

Many expressed at a Monday presentation at the Avery School that they were on the fence about keeping their kids at the school. However, officials pleaded with parents not to relocate students.

By Wednesday, some parents had made up their mind about their child's near future.

"Definitely staying. We never gave it a second thought," said Dan Hart, an Avery parent. "And parents I've spoken with feel strongly about keeping their kids in the school."

Hart said he has a sixth grader who went to Avery last school year, and a fourth grader who took MCAS for the first time in the spring.

"It may all change in September for me, but right now I haven't had to worry about an individual student. But it is alarming to me, and the Avery community, that the school failed," he said.

While parents were given a deadline of Aug. 19 to make their choice, the district said exceptions would be made, thus delaying official numbers and new class sizes.

Kelly and the district must set aside 20 percent of a $265,000 Title I state grant to pay for transportation for the students who will relocate this coming year. Any money not used may be reallocated elsewhere. However, if transportation costs exceed 20 percent, the district will relocate students based on socioeconomic status, beginning with low-income students, Kelly said.

Nearly 70 parents and teachers met last Monday at the Avery School to hear the district's presentation on the report and the district's response. Roughly another 80 watched a shorter version at Town Hall on Wednesday, including selectmen Sarah MacDonald and Paul Reynolds.

NCLB, school choice and the issues the district faces all reflect the demands of the federal government's "club with nails," Reynolds said. But, just as in times of recession, the selectman said it makes people "sit up straight."

"This calls on all of us to be creative," he said.