 |
|
|
|
|
WG schools decline state grant funds
Administrators say test scores are already improving
By Jessica Lyons
When the State Department of Education offered 3,100 low testing schools money to improve students' performance it sounded too good to be true. Willow Glen High and Elementary schools say it is. So they refused the offer--their test scores are already on the upswing, and they don't need outside evaluators telling them what to do.
"With the grant funding comes strings attached," said district spokesperson Maureen Davidson. "Both schools test scores are improving, and when you've got an upward trend, when you've got sound programs that are well conceived, when you've got a staff that is committed--it's not the time to change strategies."
All eligible schools fall below the 50th percentile on statewide tests. Twenty one of San Jose Unified's 29 schools qualified for the grant money, part of Gov. Gray Davis' plan to rebuild the California public school system. While the decision to apply or not to apply for the funds was ultimately left up to the principles at the individual schools, the district did not recommend either of the Willow Glen schools apply for the grant.
Of the 3,100 schools that qualify for state assistance, only 330 will be selected to participate in the program. Each will receive $50,000 in special grants, and must work with an external evaluator to boost student performance.
School districts must match the state money with local funds.
They will receive $150 per student in bonus money if they meet state standards, but will face state sanctions--including possible staffing changes--if they do not show improvement.
Willow Glen High principal Pat Day says his school's test scores are already improving without the help of state money.
"We're successfully raising our scores, and we believe that we have the expertise right here and in our district office." Day said. "Willow Glen had significant increases at all levels, with an increase in students scoring above the 50th percentile and students scoring above the 75th percentile in math, reading and language. We've proven to be successful and we'd like to continue on this track."
Both schools saw an overall increase in test scores from the previous year.
The recent state-wide test scores placed 55 percent of the non-Limited English Proficient (LEP) Willow Glen Elementary students at or above the 50th percentile for reading, 49 at or above the 50th percentile for math, and 54 percent of students at or above the 50th percentile for language arts, compared to 53 percent, 44 percent and 54 percent, respectively.
Willow Glen High School non-LEP scores placed 44 percent of students at or above the 50th percentile for reading, 51 percent of students at or above the 50th percentile for math; and 55 percent of students at or above the 50th percentile for language arts, compared to 41 percent, 50 percent and 51 percent, respectively.
Both schools also saw an increase in non-LEP students scoring above the 75th percentile for reading, math and language arts.
Total scores, however--combining both LEP and non-LEP students--placed less than 50 percent of students at both schools at the 50th percentile for all categories.
"Those tests are geared toward native-English-speaking students, so it automatically puts a high percentage of our population at risk," says Kim Coleman, Willow Glen Elementary PTA co-president. "They're doing a lot to bring up the test scores, we just have different challenges. And we have some exceptional students who are going to test high no matter what."
|
|
|
|
Willow Glen, California Since 1992
