The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) released report cards on school
districts throughout the state last month, the second year in which schools are
rated on a scale of 1-5 (five being best).

Welches Elementary School dropped from a level 4 in the 2012-13 school year
to a level 3 in the 2013-14 school year, while Welches Middle School stayed at
level 4 and Sandy High School rose from level 2 to level 3 (the high school
lost a level in the 2012-13 school year due to a failed participation target in a
subgroup).

Ratings are based on standardized test scores in reading and math, student
achievement, the academic growth of subgroup populations and individual
student growth over the prior year. Twenty-five percent of the rating is based
on the percent of students who met or exceeded standards, another 25
percent on growth of students in subgroup populations and the remaining 50
percent is based on all student growth.

Oregon Trail School District’s Director of Teaching and Learning Debbie
Johnson noted in an email to The Mountain Times that the state increased the
threshold for schools to reach level four, which resulted in Welches
Elementary School dropping to a level three despite improvements in reading
and math.

She added that the staff is working diligently to address the academic needs
of students in both the middle and elementary schools.

“In the elementary, this is done through targeted tiered intervention for
reading and math where students receive additional instruction in a small
group setting,” Johnson wrote. “In the middle school, students who are not at
grade level in reading and math are placed in ‘lab’ classes to address their
needs. Our goal is that all students are on track for their grade level by the
end of the year.”

The district is also stressing student attendance this year and Johnson noted
ODE changed its method for tracking attendance, moving from a “daily
attendance” that counts how many students are present each day to the
percentage of students who attend 90 percent or more of school days.

According to Johnson, last year the daily attendance averaged 94.5 percent
and 94.45 percent for Welches Elementary School and Welches Middle School,
respectively, but when totaling the number of students who attended school
for 90 percent or more of the days, the numbers drop to 81 percent and 60
percent, respectively.

Similarly, Sandy High School attendance rated at 94.47 percent for “daily
attendance,” but just 36 percent of students attended school at least 90
percent of the time.

“The (School) Board took a strong stance on the impacts attendance has on
student achievement in June when they approved the updated attendance
policy,” Johnson wrote. “If attendance impacts a student’s ability to
demonstrate mastery of content standards, then the child can be retained or
be required to repeat a course.”

Johnson noted the district utilizes a variety of assessments for student
progress, including the developmental reading assessment for elementary
students, embedded assessments within the new English language arts
curriculum, writing work samples and unit tests in math for all grade levels.

The district is also considering an interim assessment aligned with the
Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (testing based on the Common
Core State Standards) performed twice a year for students in third grade
through eighth grade and in 11th grade.

“We have to remember that state assessments, regardless of what it is, is a
snapshot of what students know and can do,” Johnson added. “The classroom
assessments tell the bigger picture of student progress.”

For more information and to view the full reports, visit www.ode.state.or.us.