August 1, 2010

Dear Parents and Community Members:

We are pleased to present you with the Annual Education Report (AER) which provides key information on the 2009-2010 educational progress for the Cedar Springs Public Schools. The AER addresses the complex reporting information required by federal and some requirements of state laws; however, our staff is available to help you understand this information. Please contact Carrie Duddles at (616) 696-1204 extension 1004 for help if you need assistance.

The AER is available for you to review electronically by clicking the link below or you may review a copy in the principal’s office at your child’s school.

Annual Education Report 2009-2010

The report contains the following information: 

Student Assessment Data− Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP), Michigan Merit Exam (MME), and Michigan’s Alternative Assessment Program (MI-Access)

• Presents achievement data for English language arts and mathematics for grades 3 to 8 (MEAP), for grade 11 (MME) and science for grades 5 and 8 compared to targets for all students as well as subgroups of students
• Provides achievement data for English language arts, mathematics and science for students with significant disabilities (MI-Access) compared to targets for all students with disabilities as well as subgroups of students
• Helps readers understand achievement progress within schools and compare these to district and state achievement  

Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) – Detail Data and Status

Provides information from assessments, graduation and attendance rates and AYP status in relation to four criteria: 

• The district must test 95% of students in total and in each required subgroup
• The district must attain achievement goals in English language arts and mathematics or reduce the percentage of students in the non-proficient category of achievement significantly ("safe harbor") annually
• The district must attain achievement goals for each subgroup that has at least 30 students in the group
• The district must meet or exceed the other academic indicators set by the state: graduation rate for high schools and attendance rate for elementary and middle schools

Teacher Quality Data   

• Identifies teacher qualifications at district and school levels
• Reports percentage of core academic classes taught by teachers not considered highly qualified to teach such classes

NAEP Data (National Assessment of Educational Progress)

• Provides state results of the national assessment in mathematics and reading every other year in grades 4 and 8
• Cannot be compared with MEAP results for grades 4 and 8 because there are no national standards.

For 2009-2010, Cedar Springs Public Schools made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in English language arts and mathematics; however, all schools in the district did not make AYP. Below you will find a list of the schools not making AYP, the reasons for not making AYP and a summary of the actions underway to improve. The principal has a letter and school specific AER that will help answer your questions. These are also posted on the district and school web sites.

On behalf of the Board of Education, our teachers, and staff, I am proud to share our school district annual report to the community.  The annual report is an opportunity to share our many accomplishments and progress toward our district goals.  This report outlines the outstanding accomplishments of our students and dedicated staff during the 2009-2010 school year.  We have a great deal to be proud of in the Cedar Springs School District.

Sincerely,

Ron McDermed
Superintendent
Cedar Springs Public School