Race To The Top guidelines have been published. You may view federal information on this program at
Http://www.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop/index.html
State guidelines may be viewed at http://www.louisianaschools.net/lde/r2t/index.html
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Race to the Top Proposed Plan Released
The Louisiana Department of Education, today, released a proposed plan for its application to compete for additional dollars under this federal education initiative.
Race To The Top or R2T as it is becoming known, is seeded with some $4.35 billion. States will compete for these dollars as part of efforts to improve troubled schools.
Some indicate that Louisiana could reap as much as $250 million which could also include up to $500,000 per year for four years for individual schools accepted into the program.
This is a very high-stakes process and it obviously could, someday, impact BTW as well as other district high priority schools.
Interested alums and friends can view the state press release, together with the attachment called "Why We Can't Wait" at the states Web site. You may use our link to the state.
Race To The Top or R2T as it is becoming known, is seeded with some $4.35 billion. States will compete for these dollars as part of efforts to improve troubled schools.
Some indicate that Louisiana could reap as much as $250 million which could also include up to $500,000 per year for four years for individual schools accepted into the program.
This is a very high-stakes process and it obviously could, someday, impact BTW as well as other district high priority schools.
Interested alums and friends can view the state press release, together with the attachment called "Why We Can't Wait" at the states Web site. You may use our link to the state.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Attendance/Enrollement History
School attendance is being tracked and published on a weekly basis as part of an effort to reduce dropout rates. This activity will cover the entire month of September, 2009.
The most recent report shown in The Times on September 27, 2009 indicates a 7.5% absence rate for BTW.
This is based on a total average enrollment of 342 with an average of 26 students absent.
For the District, the enrollment was 41,182 with 2,025 absent generating a 4.9% absence rate.
According to The Times report, this effort is "...a collaboration of school districts, the Alliance For Education and the Community Foundation, all partners in the Learning to Finish initiative to reduce dropout numbers."
We certainly hope that all interested BTW supporters are viewing this information. And, of course, taking steps to make sure our students are attending school on a regular basis.
With some pushing for even more time in school as a way of improving achievement, clearly our community must make regular school attendance a top priority.
The most recent report shown in The Times on September 27, 2009 indicates a 7.5% absence rate for BTW.
This is based on a total average enrollment of 342 with an average of 26 students absent.
For the District, the enrollment was 41,182 with 2,025 absent generating a 4.9% absence rate.
According to The Times report, this effort is "...a collaboration of school districts, the Alliance For Education and the Community Foundation, all partners in the Learning to Finish initiative to reduce dropout numbers."
We certainly hope that all interested BTW supporters are viewing this information. And, of course, taking steps to make sure our students are attending school on a regular basis.
With some pushing for even more time in school as a way of improving achievement, clearly our community must make regular school attendance a top priority.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Back to School Night-2009
The 2009-2010 Lions will hold back to school night on September 10, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.
It would be great for as many alums as possible to join the Lions on campus for this event.
Thank you very much.
It would be great for as many alums as possible to join the Lions on campus for this event.
Thank you very much.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Minimum School Performance Score Going Up
State superintendent Paul Pastorek now indicates that the minimum score is going up. According to a recent Times story, Louisiana started its improvement journey in 1999. In the beginning of the process, the minimum score was 30.. It moved to 45 and in 2005 it moved to the present 60 out of a possible 150.
Apparently the superintendent did not indicate when he wants to make this move.
The state average performance score is 86.3.
This of course places additional pressure on BTW and others striving to exit AUS status.
I can easily see a recommendation to move the minimum to 75.
I would certainly approach things from now until the change is debated and actually implemented as if it were something in the 75 to 78 range. Clearly, 60 is on its way out.
Apparently the superintendent did not indicate when he wants to make this move.
The state average performance score is 86.3.
This of course places additional pressure on BTW and others striving to exit AUS status.
I can easily see a recommendation to move the minimum to 75.
I would certainly approach things from now until the change is debated and actually implemented as if it were something in the 75 to 78 range. Clearly, 60 is on its way out.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
School Performance Scores for AUS Schools Released
On August 28, 2009, the Louisiana Department of Education released the 2008-2009 school performance scores for the AUS schools. The four AUS high schools in Caddo scored as follows:
BTW...58.4
Fair Park...51.0
Green Oaks...49.4
Woodlawn...49.4
Click on the FACTS label for additional information.
BTW...58.4
Fair Park...51.0
Green Oaks...49.4
Woodlawn...49.4
- A score of at least 60 is needed to shed the AUS label
- The state goal is for all schools to be at 120 by the year 2014
Click on the FACTS label for additional information.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
ACT Scores for Louisiana-2009
A national tool for evaluating college readiness is the ACT score. The results for the 2009 graduating class are now in, and being reported by ACT at http://www.act.org.
On a national level some 23% of all students tested met the readiness benchmark in all four subjects, as compared with 15% in Louisiana.
Louisiana Composite Scores
Asian American/Pacific Islander... 22.3
Caucasian American/White.......... 21.5
National Average Composite.......21.1
Hispanic ......................................... 20.3
Other/no response......................... 20.2
Louisiana Average Composite... 20.1
American Indian/Alaska Native... 19.4
African American/Black................17.3
It is very important as parents and alums that we are aware of these scoring trends and that proper steps are taken to improve our results.
We must consider that Louisiana's Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) requires a score equal to the prior year's state average to be considered for the OPPORTUNITY AWARD. Currently a minimum score of 20 is required.
As college costs continue to increase, scholarship money can not and should not be left on the table due to lack of performance.
On a national level some 23% of all students tested met the readiness benchmark in all four subjects, as compared with 15% in Louisiana.
Louisiana Composite Scores
Asian American/Pacific Islander... 22.3
Caucasian American/White.......... 21.5
National Average Composite.......21.1
Hispanic ......................................... 20.3
Other/no response......................... 20.2
Louisiana Average Composite... 20.1
American Indian/Alaska Native... 19.4
African American/Black................17.3
It is very important as parents and alums that we are aware of these scoring trends and that proper steps are taken to improve our results.
We must consider that Louisiana's Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) requires a score equal to the prior year's state average to be considered for the OPPORTUNITY AWARD. Currently a minimum score of 20 is required.
As college costs continue to increase, scholarship money can not and should not be left on the table due to lack of performance.
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