The number of top rated schools in Delaware fell sharply this year as federal standards continued to rise, and Secretary of Education Lillian Lowery said Friday the time for major reform of education in Delaware is now.
School accountability ratings released by the Delaware Department of Education on Friday showed the state has 20 percent fewer “Superior” schools this year and only half as many “Commendable” schools as last year. There was a concurrent rise in the number of schools under “Academic Review” and “Academic Progress.”
The rating categories are set forth by the federal No Child Left Behind program.
“The clock is ticking on us,” Lowery said. “We have to take big, giant steps toward radically improving our education system quickly enough to have this generation of students ready to compete for the next generation of jobs and opportunity.
The report released Friday shows that 66 schools have been rated Superior, 17 schools have been rated Commendable, 46 schools have been rated Academic Review, 26 schools have been rated “Academic Progress – Under Improvement” and 37 schools have been rated “Academic Watch – Under Improvement.”
Lowery is hopeful that Delaware’s $100 million cut of federal Race to the Top funds will help spur reform. School districts are now working on their formal plans for reform and must submit them to the Delaware Department of Education by the end of December.
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School Rankings By The Numbers Total public schools: 210 Superior: 66 Commendable: 17 Academic Review: 46 Academic Progress: 26 Academic Watch: 37 Not Applicable: 18 |
“Only bold plans that offer a road to dramatic improvement will be approved and funded,” she said. “But those plans that offer only a detour to mediocrity will not be approved and funded.”
As a result of the No Child Left BehindAct of 2001, all states are required to conduct a federally approved annual assessment of all students in grades 3-8 and one high school grade. In Delaware, the Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP) is currently used to assess student knowledge in reading, writing, mathematics, science and social studies. Student results of each year’s DSTP assessment is then used as the primary means to determine school accountability ratings.
About 43 percent of Delaware schools are rated as superior or commendable, but nearly one out of every 5 schools are on the academic watch list.
Online school profiles are now available for viewing on the Department of Education’s website. The profiles will identify each school’s accountability rating as well as show what targets were and were not met. Parents can also look at school profiles to view student achievement data, staff information and a school’s demographics.
To view individual school profiles, visit: www.doe.k12.de.us
