LCUSD API Scores to Be Reviewed
A La Cañada Unified School District official reported this week that incorrect data was used when calculating the local public school’s Academic Performance Index scores this year and that a pending recalculation should boost those already high numbers.
At Tuesday’s Governing Board Meeting, Director of Assessment Lindi Dreibelbis Arthur announced that upon doing a thorough review of data, findings were discovered for part of a dip in 2006 API scores. On Monday her office submitted 30 data correction changes.
“This is a result of students being miscoded at testing time resulting in a modification and alteration of test scores,” reported Dreibelbis Arthur. “By submitting data corrections yesterday, the state has also been alerted and they will now recalculate all API scores in the district and they will be re-released in February.”
Dreibelbis Arthur fully anticipates at that time, the scores will move up higher than the current 915, which is still well over the state target of 800 and ranks the LCUSD third highest in the state.
She presented to the board a follow-up to 2006 California Standard Testing (CST) scores and API Growth Scores and discussed comparison of scores and methods used by the State of California Department of Education to calibrate test scores as it relates to what they consider to be proficient in areas of English language arts, mathematics, science, history and social science.
“I think we all know that when you get so very, very high it continues to be a challenge to improve the scores, but I certainly think through the assessments practices that we do in the district it will help to improve the score,” Dreibelbis Arthur said.
New Emergency Program
Superintendent Jim Stratton announced the creation of a new program, “Connected,” which will replace the current phone tree system used during emergency situations at school sites. The program, to be implemented by the end of the year, will be able to notify parents within five to ten minutes at any or all numbers on their emergency list.
The system could be activated to notify parents in any crisis, as Glendale Unified School District did via a similar system during this week’s meningitis scare at Crescenta Valley High.
Also, each teacher and staff member in the LCUSD will receive a card-sized, desktop flip chart with procedures to be used for any and all types of emergencies.
Stratton also presented and discussed methods to meet benchmark goals and evaluate and achieve success for students at each individual school site under the Every Student Succeeds Plan (ESS).
Joint Use
Board members and LCUSD Joint Use Committee liaisons, Jinny Dalbeck and Joel Peterson discussed plans to keep the LCF City Council updated on plans for the possible use of the former district office site adjacent to Palm Crest Elementary, potential projects at all elementary school sites and plans to help solve parking problems and alleviate congestion in residential areas around the FIS site. (A meeting to which Palm Crest Elementary parents were invited was held at the campus Monday evening to update parents on suggested uses for the property.)
In other business, Emily Felong, California School Employee Association president elect for classified staff at LCUSD, addressed the board and to address rumors that parents in the district have expressed their feelings that
Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) dollars should be spent on programs and curriculum to benefit the students in the district and not be used for salary increases for classified staff.
“On behalf of the CSEA staff, I feel the need to remind you that by giving a cost of living raise to your classified staff, it is, indirectly benefiting students in the district,” said Felong. She then went on to list various ways students benefit from work performed by classified staff throughout the district.
Also, the Board approved the site block grant spending plans as presented approved updates to the review of the District’s Conflict of Interest Code and authorized staff to go to bid for La Cañada High School flooring.