PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. (Aug. 15, 2008)—The Calvert County Public School System this week announced that all Calvert County public elementary and middle schools met Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) requirements for 2008. AYP measures student performance in reading and mathematics. Each year, MSDE sets AYP targets which school systems must achieve for all populations of students, including minorities, special education, poverty, and Limited English Proficient (LEP) students. The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) expects all students to meet 100% proficiency by 2014.
Dr. Ted Haynie, Director of System Performance, noted that middle school students in particular made significant progress in reading and math.
School officials say that since each student has individual needs, tailoring classroom instruction to each student's needs is a challenge.
Bruce Hutchinson, Principal at Calvert Middle School says Calvert Middle School makes use of grade-level Professional Learning Communities to ensure all students receive what they need to excel. "With this technique, instructional staff meet regularly to review student data and make instructional decisions," said Hutchinson. "In addition, teachers employ flexible grouping in the classroom, bringing together students who are working on similar skills. Finally, teachers provide targeted instruction in math and reading to ensure the high achievement of all students based on identified needs."
Jack Smith, Superintendent, emphasized that students learn and progress when there is effective classroom instruction. "I cannot overstate the impact of the classroom teacher on student learning," said Smith.
Smith said he is pleased with the outstanding MSA results, but he points out that while tests are necessary, they are not sufficient. "They provide only one measure of what students know, and our goal as a school system is to challenge every student to reach his or her potential," said Smith.
High school AYP results will be available later this fall.