Posted 3:04 am Sunday, November 15, 2009
Tyler ISD Schools Get Top Marks From TEA
The Texas Education Agency awarded 40 Gold Performance Acknowledgments to 15 Tyler ISD schools, the school district announced.
Gold Performance Acknowledge-ments (GPAs) recognize districts and campuses for high academic performance on indicators such as commended performance on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) test and significant improvement in reading and mathematics, according to TISD.
There are 13 categories in which a GPA can be earned at the district level and 15 categories at the campus level, according to TEA.
Of the 1,224 districts evaluated, 78 percent earned one or more GPAs. Among the 7,650 campuses evaluated, 79 percent of the campuses earned one or more acknowledgment, according to TEA.
TISD as a district did not earn any GPAs.
Dr. Karen Raney, director of assessment and accountability for TISD, said Gold Performance Acknowledgements are like the "gold stars" for going above and beyond the measures in the state accountability system.
Dr. Karen Raney, director of assessment and accountability for TISD, said Gold Performance Acknowledgements are like the "gold stars" for going above and beyond the measures in the state accountability system.
"It's outside the accountability system and gives special attention to the indicators that don't count in the accountability ratings but that are still important," Ms. Raney said.
According to TISD, to receive acknowledgement of "commended performance," at least 30 percent of the students must have met the commended standard (a scale score of 2400) on the TAKS test. A scale score of 2100 is considered passing. Commended performance acknowledgments are awarded in: Reading/English Language Arts (ELA), Writing, Math, Science and Social Studies.
"Comparable improvement" ac-counts for student growth from one year to the next and compares the change with that of 40 other campuses with similar demographics. The campus must be in the top 25 percent of its comparison group in gains on TAKS.
Recognition for attendance is received when a campus meets or exceeds a 97 percent attendance rate in elementary school, 96 percent attendance rate in middle school and 95 percent attendance rate in high school, according to TISD.
