The Tyrone Area School District lost an appeal to the Pennsylvania Department of Education concerning the middle school’s scores on last year’s Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) for truancy.
Tyrone was one of 114 schools across the commonwealth that had appeals denied by the department of education.
“We had met adequate yearly progress with math and reading scores,” said Tyrone Superintendent Dr. William Miller. “It was the participation rate of the students who took the test where we were flagged.”
The goal of the program is for no child to be left behind, but Miller feels there are flaws in the system.
“There are a lot of flaws concerning No Child Left Behind,” said Miller.
“There is no differential concerning the base of intelligence of students. We had 95 percent of the students in eighth grade complete the test. We had one student who refused to take the test and five that had extended absences from school. That is what caused us to be written up.”
Hollidaysburg Junior High was flagged and had its appeal denied as well.
With the denial of the appeal, all parents of eighth grade students will receive a letter from the district concerning the results.
The letter states: “The purpose of this memo is to inform you that the Tyrone Area Middle School (grade 8) did not make average yearly progress (AYP) during the 2002-03 school year because our school’s sub-group of economically disadvantaged students did not have 95 percent of its students participating in the PSSA.
The 49 economically disadvantaged students had a participation rate of 90.6 percent in math and 92.5 percent in reading. The eighth grade disaggregated and total did meet the required proficiency levels in both reading in mathematics.
“The Tyrone Area School District is working hard to make sure that we make AYP next year. We appreciate your support of our schools as we attempt to meet our goals.”
If even one group fails to make AYP for two consecutive years, there is the possibility of school choice or supplemental educational services.
