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| Post Number: 91
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scorenix 
Group: Members
Posts: 1147
Joined: Dec. 2004
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Posted on: Aug. 30 2007,10:08 pm |
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| Quote (cityimage @ Aug. 29 2007,11:20pm) | timeFrame=all&districtNumber=0241&districtType=01&dis]http://app.education.state.mn.us/MFRSyst....=01&dis[/URL]
99-00 25.2 million
00-01 27.0 million
01-02 27.9 million
02-03 27.7 million
03-04 30.3 million
04-05 31.1 million
05-06 32.2 million
The two biggest jumps from 99-00 to 05-06 are in the catagories of Regular Instruction and Exceptional Instruction which is about 4.6 million difference so wondering what expenses consist on those two catagories. |
Works out to 4.2% per year. Anyone want to compare that to our County and City governments?
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"Here is something for those who think I have not done much on my own to think about. I must then be one of the luckiest people around, and I think I am, I should then be able to keep that same luck going for the benefit of our area." - New ALEDA Executive Director Dan Dorman.
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| Post Number: 92
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busybee
Group: Members
Posts: 2510
Joined: May 2004
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Posted on: Aug. 31 2007,12:02 am |
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| Quote | | You talk about the 3R's, however, the state and federal government set the education requirements. They go so far as to require that a school will teach specific items in history, english and etc. Every administration comes on with new requirements and they continue to change each time the president or governor change. There is no consistency. |
True and more changes are coming up with the 9th graders beginning in 2011.
Currently requirements for graduation are as follows, started for 9th grade 2004-05 school year:
Language arts 4 credits
Math 3 credits, including-algebra, geometry, statistics & probability
Science 3 credits, including 1 biology
Social Studies 3 1/2 credits including, U.S. history, geography, government & citizenship, world history & economics
OR
Social studies: 3 credits including U.S. history, geography, government & citizenship, world history, 1/2 credit economics taught by the social studies or business department
Foreign Language: World languages is an elective standard.
Arts 1 credit
Elective Standards: School districts must establish and offer electives for vocational & technical education, health & physical education, world languages.
Graduation Requirements for students entering 9th grade 2011-12 school year.
Language Arts: Same, no new requirements
Math: Algebra I or equivalent by the end of 8th grade and 3 credits including, 1 geometry, 1 statistics & probability and 1 algebra II credit or equivalent.
Science: 3 science credits including 1 biology, 1 chemistry or physics credit. An agriculture science credit may fullfill the additional science requirement.
Social Studies: Same, no additional requirements.
Foreign Language: Same, no additional requirements
Art: Same, no additional requirements
Elective Standards: Same, no additional requirements
It is my understanding that everything our schools offer (especially high school) above and beyond what is required would be the districts requirements for graduation, such as the number of electives needed to graduate. Please, correct me if I am wrong.
Here's the "governments" concern:
The Education Commissioner must revise required K-12 academic standards and related benchmarks in the 2006-2007 through 2010-2011 school years. The benchmarks (1) specify the knowledge and skills that students must have to satisfy the academic standards and (2) contain information used to develop graduation tests.
Despite the apparent alignment of K-12 graduation and college admissions requirements, reports on recent high school graduates show that many entering students at Minnesota’s public postsecondary institutions take remedial and developmental courses.
The percentage of students taking remedial courses varies by institution type, institution admission standards, and year of high school graduation. The percentage of students at the University of Minnesota taking remedial classes has declined from 15 percent for 1999 high school graduates to 8 percent for 2002 graduates. At four-year state universities in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system (MnSCU) the percentage of students taking remedial classes has increased from 21 percent for 1999 graduates to 29 percent for 2002 graduates. Two-year MnSCU colleges are open enrollment institutions with much higher rates of remedial and development course work (46 percent for 2002 high school graduates). (Source: Getting Prepared: A 2005 Report on Recent High School Graduates Who Took Developmental/Remedial Courses, Minnesota State Colleges and the University of Minnesota, August 2005,
The most recent information I could find on revenue & expenses:
2005-06 General Fund Revenues by percentage:
State: 87.3%
Federal: 5.4%
Local: 7.3%
2005-06 Use of Funds by percentage:
Instruction, Supplimental Services & school Administration: 76.7%
District Level Administration: 3%
Transportation: 5.7%
Facilities /operations: 14.6%
Where does extra curricular activities come out?
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| Post Number: 93
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bianca
Group: Members
Posts: 1882
Joined: Dec. 2006
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Posted on: Aug. 31 2007,11:04 am |
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Report: Number Of Underachieving MN Schools Rises
8/29/2007 Annual Yearly Report
"I would hope people ask why doesn't this match up with everything else that we're hearing," said Susan Brott, president of the Minnesota School Public Relations Association. "It sounds like we're always making excuses for things. But with the complexity of No Child Left Behind, it's kind of a challenge to get people interested in it beyond a simple number."
....Under the 2002 federal law, schools must demonstrate continual gains among students in reading and math, toward a goal of having all children at grade-level proficiency by 2014.
....the stigma alone of being on the list can make a difference, said state Education Commissioner Alice Seagren.
"They have to answer to their public if they have a school site in their district that is not making (adequate yearly progress)," she said. "There are other things besides sanctions that actually get people motivated to improve, and this reporting system is one way of doing that."
The first column reflects Title I
The second column k-12 enrollment
The third column % free and/or discount lunches
1 ALBERT LEA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT Yes 3509 39
Not Making AYP - Needs Improvement
2 ALBERT LEA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT HALVERSON YES 433 54 Not Making AYP
3 ALBERT LEA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT HAWTHORNE YES 394 51 Making AYP
4ALBERT LEA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LAKEVIEW NO 451 36 Not Making AYP
5 ALBERT LEA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT SIBLEY YES 396 44
Making AYP
6 ALBERT LEA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT ALBERT LEA SENIOR HIGH NO 1238 28 Not Making AYP
7 ALBERT LEA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT SOUTHWEST NO 502 39 Making AYP
8ALBERT LEA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT ALBERT LEA AREA LEARNING CNTR. NO 77 58 Making AYP
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Read proficient Math Proficient
Spec Ed red lunch Spec Ed red lunchlast year 2007
AYP AYP
1 Yes Yes Yes Yes No No
2 No Yes No Yes Yes No
3 Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes
4 No Yes Yes Yes Yes No
5 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
6 Yes Yes No Yes No No
7 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
8 - - - - Yes Yes
Read story in entirety:
http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_242224615.html
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I believe in the patriotism and energy and initiative of the average man. Woodrow Wilson
Early in life, I had to choose between honest arrogance and hypocritical humility. — Frank Lloyd Wright (1868-1959)
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| Post Number: 94
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bianca
Group: Members
Posts: 1882
Joined: Dec. 2006
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Posted on: Aug. 31 2007,11:27 am |
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According to AL Tribune: Friday 8/31/07
....For Freeborn County students, Albert Lea is the only school district labeled by the Minnesota Department of Education as not meeting AYP levels and needs improvement based on 2007 data.
....This is the third year that ALHS has not met AYP standards.
....Federal law requires schools and districts not meeting AYP to notify parents of students. Parents can then choose to enroll their students at the same school or transfer to another school within the district that is meeting standards. If a child stays at the same school then tutoring is to be made available in math and reading.
If a school or district does not meet AYP two or more years in a row then the district is labeled in “improvement status” with the Department of Education. The school must then write a plan to increase achievement, focusing more resources on students achieving proficiency in math and reading.
**What's wrong with this picture??**
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I believe in the patriotism and energy and initiative of the average man. Woodrow Wilson
Early in life, I had to choose between honest arrogance and hypocritical humility. — Frank Lloyd Wright (1868-1959)
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| Post Number: 95
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jimhanson
Group: Moderator
Posts: 8491
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Aug. 31 2007,12:45 pm |
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And some will suggest that the answer is to THROW MORE MONEY AT IT. 
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"If you want to anger a Conservative, tell him a lie. If you want to anger a LIBERAL, tell him the TRUTH!"
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| Post Number: 96
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TameThaTane
Group: Members
Posts: 6300
Joined: May 2005
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Posted on: Aug. 31 2007,12:50 pm |
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It's funny how not one of the people who wanted to throw more money at it wrote the district a check when the referendum failed.
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My choice is what I choose to do,
And if I'm causing no harm, it shouldn't bother you.
Your choice is who you choose to be,
And if you're causin' no harm, then you're alright with me.
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| Post Number: 97
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busybee
Group: Members
Posts: 2510
Joined: May 2004
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Posted on: Aug. 31 2007,5:53 pm |
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I don't see the school district even addressing the issue of NCLB and where they fit in. I remember Prescott saying that A.L. actually did pretty good when you put all the numbers together.
I know there's a lot of controversy about NCLB. Maybe it is an unrealistic expectation for all students to meet, but the goal to attempt getting them there certainly isn't.
That's what frustrates me about the district. NCLB is real, it's here and it needs to be dealt with. The referendum they wanted last year and will attempt again this year does not reflect concern for the issue. Simply put, they want money to keep things the same because that's the only option they can come up with. What would be so wrong with prioritizing (making cuts where they can) and asking for some money to go towards NCLB progress? When money gets tight, difficult choices have to be made. Once again...when everything is a priority, nothing is.
My biggest fear in this referendum passing is "for the kids." NCLB is not in focus. There is no assurance that the district intends to deal with inadequate progress. So, where will our kids be if sanctions are put into place from the lack of progress?
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| Post Number: 98
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Peter
Group: Members
Posts: 21
Joined: Dec. 2006
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Posted on: Aug. 31 2007,6:08 pm |
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Wait until you receive all the information on testing and where the district failed. It is unfair to compare some districts with smaller districts because the number of students in a subgroup is 20. That means that small schools don't fail because they don't have at least 20 in a group. The paper today stated that a district could fail because of ethnic groups (English Language Learners) and special education. Again, many schools don't have at least 20 in a group, so they are not required to make AYP. Larger schools have a greater challenge.
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K.P.
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| Post Number: 99
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bianca
Group: Members
Posts: 1882
Joined: Dec. 2006
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Posted on: Sep. 04 2007,8:07 am |
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QUOTE It is unfair to compare some districts with smaller districts because the number of students in a subgroup is 20.
Then don't compare them, the problem is District 241 whether compared to some other district is irrelevant. We, District 241, FAILED to come up in scores for THREE years in a row. Rather than try to figure out how they are going to get a referendum to pass should maybe just be "tabled" and all of that effort go into teaching and figuring out HOW to stop failing.
For starters maybe they can stop having reps like yourself try to "make excuses". This isn't just the first year this has happened so you can't just try to sweep it under the rug AGAIN. It's been three years in a row and the excuses are growing tiresome. Obviously there is something wrong here in OUR district that needs to be addressed.
Furthermore:
QUOTE The paper today stated that a district could fail because of ethnic groups (English Language Learners) and special education.
This tactic/biased statement infuriates me, besides the fact that the district sounds sooo discriminatory when they bring it up. By the chart, special ed and the red./free lunch populations MADE their reading and math proficiency as a whole in the district. The instructors work hard on getting the students ready for those tests. Give these students the credit they deserve instead of trying to further "outcast" them from the rest of the population. 
QUOTE "I would hope people ask why doesn't this match up with everything else that we're hearing," said Susan Brott, president of the Minnesota School Public Relations Association. "It sounds like we're always making excuses for things. But with the complexity of No Child Left Behind, it's kind of a challenge to get people interested in it beyond a simple number."
EXACTLY!!!!!
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I believe in the patriotism and energy and initiative of the average man. Woodrow Wilson
Early in life, I had to choose between honest arrogance and hypocritical humility. — Frank Lloyd Wright (1868-1959)
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| Post Number: 100
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bianca
Group: Members
Posts: 1882
Joined: Dec. 2006
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Posted on: Sep. 04 2007,8:17 am |
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I believe in the patriotism and energy and initiative of the average man. Woodrow Wilson
Early in life, I had to choose between honest arrogance and hypocritical humility. — Frank Lloyd Wright (1868-1959)
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