Adams 14 CSAP results: middle school performance is strong

COMMERCE CITY (August 7, 2009): Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) scores released on August 7, 2009, by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) show that Adams 14’s overall test scores improved by 1.73%.

“The real story this year,” said Superintendent Sue Chandler, “is at the middle school level, where scores improved significantly at both Adams City and Kearney Middle Schools.” ACMS posted gains of 6.11%, while KMS scores increased 6.21% overall. Seven of 12 District schools showed overall growth on the state tests this year.

“We are at a point where these small annual gains aren’t going to get us to our goal,” said Chandler, “and now is the time to reform our system and increase our expectations so that 80% of our students are proficient by 2014.” Chandler acknowledged that last year was a difficult year for Adams 14, with changing leadership and the development of a new strategic plan. “There were many changes last year, and while we’re still in transition, we feel like we’re on the road to academic success,” reinforced Chandler.

With the statewide move to the Colorado Growth Model, Adams 14 is looking at test scores two ways this year. “We are still looking at overall proficiency of students,” said Dr. Joseph Miller, “but now we also look at value added by a school, or growth.” Miller is the Adams 14 Chief Accountability, Evaluation and Strategy Officer. He applauds the state’s move to the growth model, recognizing that Colorado is a leader in the nation by adopting this approach. “Colorado is making a sensible move that really validates why schools exist – to help students grow academically and improve their lives,” added Miller.

According to the Colorado Department of Education, the Colorado Growth Model measures academic growth of students from year to year. The goal is for every student to make more than one year’s growth in a year’s time. Schools receive a rating for overall student growth – Low, Typical or High.

“Because our test scores have been below the state average every year,” said Miller, “schools need to make high growth. That is the only way we will catch up and reach our goal.” Kearney Middle School and Community Leadership Academy (middle school level) are the only Adams 14 schools to make high growth this year. “We have a lot of work to do,” added Miller. Adams 14 will use growth data to determine whether students are improving enough each year to reach proficiency.

CSAP scores are now being looked at in two ways, and both are used to provide the best educational opportunities for every student in Adams 14. “Test scores are important to students and parents, because results let parents know if schools are performing and growing each year,” said Superintendent Chandler.

“We developed a new strategy last year that makes effective instruction the focus of our work,” said Superintendent Chandler. Through effective classroom teaching, collaboration and data use, Adams 14 will make further progress toward its achievement goals. “We are emphasizing standards-based instruction,” said Chandler. “We believe this fundamental approach will help improve our overall scores on CSAP.”