Prep work paying off, principals say

Students at one school tell teachers mock tests harder than real thing

"We didn't make [Annual Yearly Progress]; however, we made significant progress in the areas of proficiency overall in reading and math," Best-Goring said. "We're just screaming. We're tasting victory and we just know in '09 we're going to make it."

Results showing which elementary and middle schools made state-defined Adequate Yearly Progress in 2008 were released Aug. 14. High school results are expected in late September.

AYP defines gains schools must make each year in student achievement in reading and math on Maryland School Assessment tests for elementary and middle schoolers, and on the High School Assessments for high schoolers.

High schools' graduation rates and elementary and middle schools' attendance rates also influence AYP. Additionally, schools miss AYP if more than 5 percent of their students do not take the assessments, according to the Maryland Report Card Web site.

Schools that fail to make AYP for two consecutive years fall into school improvement status, and corrective action is more severe each year for these schools until they make AYP.

Brandywine Elementary School made AYP in 2007 and 2008. All subgroups improved in both math and reading scores from last year's AYP results.

"To say I'm pleased about it doesn't really hit what I'm feeling," Brandywine Principal Thomas Couteau said. "I'm expecting that we'll continue to improve in all subgroups until we hit that 100 percent mark, and my expectation is that my teachers will do an excellent job, the parents will support us and the kids will work hard."

Seabrook Elementary School in Seabrook also made AYP.

Students were administered MSA packets at the beginning of each week to help them prepare for the MSA.

Clareta Spinks, principal at Seabrook Elementary, plans to continue administering the packets in the upcoming school year.

The packets had multiple choice and short essay questions and mirrored the MSA test, Spinks said. The tests were scored weekly, and the data were analyzed. If progress was not being made, instruction was adjusted.

After the students took the MSA, many said the packets were harder than the actual test.

"I have inherited a gem; these strong, effective teachers," Spinks said. "We did a dynamite job, and I anticipate it to continue this year."

If a school does not make AYP, that does not mean teachers, staff and students are not dedicated or working hard.

"I think [it takes] a lot of hard work, even for schools that didn't make it," said Helena Nobles Jones, principal at Charles Herbert Flowers High School in Springdale. "I'm sure they devoted a lot of time, effort and energy into making AYP. My advice to them is to not look at it as a defeat but to accept it as being a challenge."

Jones is hopeful that her school met AYP.

"We've made it in years past, except for last year because of the graduation rate," she said. "I hope it's been resolved and we've been successful. If not, then we'll have to look at the data and see what needs to be done."