08/30/11 Plymouth Schools Superintendent Daniel Tyree announced Monday that the corporation as a whole has received an “A” rating by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). Additionally, the school system passed Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) through the federal No Child Left Behind legislation for the fourth year in a row.

The states’ rating system is based on Public Law 221. P.L. 221 is an accountability system for grades K-12. To measure progress, schools are placed in one of five categories: A-Exemplary Progress; B-Commendable Progress; C-Academic Progress; D=Academic Watch –Priority, and F-Academic Probation-High Priority.

The categories were determined by performance percentages of all students who pass the state’s English and math tests for grades 3-8 and English 10 and Algebra ECA (End of Course Assessments), improvements in the passing percentage of students passing ISTEP-+ over a three-year period, and Adequate Yearly Progress status. Schools must make AYP for two consecutive years.

ISTEP+ (Indiana Statewide Testing for Educatioanl Progress) was designed to encourage students to master basic language and science skills, particularly reading, writing and mathematics. Testing is given annually for all students in grades 3-8. High school sophomores take the ISTEP+ each spring, with language and math covered in each test. Science is tested in grades 5 and 7.

Since 2002, the federal NCLB Act of 2001 has required public schools to make AYP both for the overall student population and any demographic group within the school that has 30 or more students such as economic background, race/ethnicity, limited English proficiency, and special education.

Tyree said, “Congratulations to the staff, students, and parents for their partnership in public education. He added, “Plymouth Schools are dedicated to doing “Whatever It Takes” to help students maximize the academic potential.”

Results for each individual school in the Plymouth system have not been released to the public as yet. Schools across the state were given scores in July, but the results continue to be embargoed until any appeals have been reviewed.

Carol Anders Correspondent