Are 'Failing' Schools Really Failing? Elementary School Principals' Thoughts on Not Making 'Adequate Progress'

Two elementary schools in Oakdale— and —were listed as “failing to make adequate yearly progress” under federal No Child Left Behind standards, according to data released in late September.

The schools weren’t alone, with about half of the schools in the state receiving the same moniker. And while there’s much debate over whether the labels and punitive measures that come along with failing to make adequate yearly progress (AYP) are justified—so much so that the state of Minnesota has applied for a waiver from No Child Left Behind’s requirements—principals of the two schools said the increased focus on test scores hasn’t been all bad.

“I think it was very useful at the beginning, because it got schools to look at the data,” said Castle Elementary School Principal Allie Storti.

Castle was on the list because test scores in reading for the limited English proficiency and Asian subgroups, as well as the “all students” group were not high enough, Storti said. The school was three points shy of making its target in the “all students” group, she said.

To raise scores, teachers are getting more coaching in teaching reading, and working more as a staff on teaching vocabulary, she said.

Oakdale Elementary School was on the list because students in the special education subgroup did not test high enough in math, and students in the special education and white students subgroups and the “all students” group didn’t test high enough in reading, said Principal Peter Mau. 

Like Castle, Oakdale Elementary School is coaching teachers in reading, Mau said. The school is also investing in staff development in reading and writing, and its implementing a new vocabulary curriculum for fourth and fifth grade, he said.

Overall, Mau said the school dramatically increased its proficiency in math between 2006 and 2010 and improved three years in a row in reading.

“I believe that 2011 was a temporary dip that won’t reflect the overall trend of improvement we have had,” he said. “Our fall district assessment shows that we are on pace to significantly improve our reading proficiency.”

Overall, the principals said they support school accountability, but they aren’t sure that the No Child Left Behind standards are the most effective way to hold schools accountable.

“AYP is a crude measure and is not a great way to determine the overall effectiveness of a school,” Mau said. “Anytime you have a simplified yes/no, it doesn’t accurately reflect the real continuum that exists.”

Up Next: Look next week for reflections on the results from Oakdale-area secondary schools’  that failed to make AYP.