News Brief
State Releases School Ratings Under New Accountability System
SitNews (08/21/2013)The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development recently released the first results of the state's new accountability and support system for public schools. The Alaska School Performance Index (ASPI), which replaced the Adequate Yearly Progress system, reveals that 52 of the 503 rated schools earned five stars, the highest rating, while 190 schools are four-star schools, 162 schools are three-star schools, 49 schools are two-star schools, and 50 schools are one-star schools. Nearly 92 percent of students attended schools in 2012-13 that earned three stars or above. State Education Commissioner Mike Hanley says, "The goal of using the ASPI rating system is to inform schools and the state of local outcomes in critical areas. By doing so we are able to focus resources in areas of challenge, and continue the efforts that produce success." Schools rated between one and three stars must implement improvement plans, and four-star and five-star schools with declines in graduation rates from the previous year, whose assessment scores have declined for two consecutive years, or which have not met their AMOs for two consecutive years also are expected to do so. For more information, click here.
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