O C
Achieve Sept.Final 9/1/05 3:41 PM
Calendar September 17
Constitution and Citizenship
Day, a new observance
legislated by Congress this
past May. Education institu-
tions receiving federal funds
are required to “hold an edu-
cational program pertaining
to the U.S. Constitution on
September 17 of each year,”
the new law states. Among
other resources, the FREE
Web site—www.ed.gov/free—
offers a special page of federal
resources for teaching and
learning about the 1787 doc-
ument that shaped America’s
democratic government.
September 24
National Book Festival,
sponsored by the Library
of Congress and hosted by
First Lady Laura Bush on the
National Mall in Washington,
D.C. Famous guests include
authors Tom Clancy, David
McCullough and R.L. Stine.
For details, visit www.loc.gov
and click on “National Book
Festival,” or call (888) 714-
4696.
October 20
Lights On Afterschool!, a
nationwide event saluting after-
school programs. For informa-
tion on hosting a local event
along with suggested ideas and
supporting materials, visit
www.afterschoolalliance.org
or call (202) 347-1002.
October 16–22
National Character Counts!
Week, a celebration of the
importance of developing
good character in youths.
To receive free resources for
conducting local activities, visit
www.charactercounts.org or
call (800) 711-2670.
page 5 page
Page 1
QA
& G L O S S A R Y
What if my child’s school
does not make adequate
yearly progress?
U Results Show Progress
nder the No Child Left Behind
Act, by the start of the school
year parents should be notified
as to whether their child’s school has
made adequate yearly progress (AYP).
Schools that have not made AYP for
two consecutive school years are identi-
(
fied for improvement. While school
officials must develop a plan to turn
around the school, every student in a
school receiving Title I funds must be
given the option to transfer to another
public school in the district that has not
been identified as needing improvement.
The district must provide transportation
News Show Offers Back-to-School Tips
T
he Department’s
monthly television
WHAT
program begins
the 2004–05 season with
a special “Back-to-
School” edition that
focuses on high school
learning. The September
show of Education News
Parents Can Use will
offer parents of middle
and high school-aged
students tips on course selection; questions
to ask teachers and principals; and advice
for keeping students on track.
The broadcast will showcase teachers and
administrators from schools that are suc-
cessfully applying the No Child Left Behind
principles of high standards for all stu-
dents and evidence-based approach-
es to learning. It will also highlight
such programs as State Scholars,
Advanced Placement, Community
CO
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION POSTAGE AND FEES PAID
ED PUBS The U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
P.O. BOX 1398
JESSUP, MD 20794-1398
EDUCATION
Permit NO. G-17 The U.S.
OFFICIAL BUSINESS VOL.4, NO.10 SEPTEMBER 2005
PRESORTED DEPARTMENT
PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE $300 OF
FIRST CLASS EDUCATION
up to certain spending limits. Parents
should be notified about their choices
“not later than the first day of the school VOL.4, NO.10 SEPTEMBER 2005 www.ed.gov
year following such identification,” the
law requires.
If the school does not make AYP
for three years, the district must offer
Spellings Says
Data Are “Evidence That
No Child Left Behind
Nation’s Report Card I N S I D E
students from low-income families sup-
2 Spellings at National PTA
plemental educational services—free Is Working” Convention
tutoring and other academic services
Around the Country—
outside of the regular school day.
T
he latest results on the Nation’s Report > Thirteen-year-old students scored higher in Alabama and North and
Schools that remain “in improvement” South Dakota
for additional years are subject to correc- Card show that students have made sig- math in 2004 than in any previous assessment
tive action and restructuring. nificant gains since the enactment of No year, with considerable increases occurring since 3 New Mexico’s Chimayo
( Child Left Behind and, in some cases, in 1999. But reading scores for this cohort remain Elementary School
AYP adequate yearly progress: the history of the assessment program, unchanged from the last assessment. 5 Calendar
the annual level of improvement,
which began charting educational > Overall performance of 17-year-old
Q&A—Adequate Yearly
progress in 1971 in reading and 1973 in students in both subjects remained Progress
as measured on student assessments
mathematics. unchanged; however, black and Hispanic
and other academic indicators, set Education News Parents
Released in July by the U.S. Depart- students in this age group made progress
by each state that a school must Can Use
ment of Education’s National Center for since the initial assessment.
achieve. 6 Resource—The Facts
Education Statistics, data from the 2004 > Many of the differences in achievement
About K–12 Funding
long-term National Assessment of Educational between black or Hispanic students and their
Progress (NAEP) revealed: white counterparts have narrowed, as the average
> On average, nine-year-old students scored scores for minority student groups have increased
The Facts About K–12 Education Funding higher in both subjects in 2004 than in any pre- over time.
vious assessment year, with substantial increases “Today’s report card,” said U.S. Secretary of Edu-
College Access/Dual occurring since the last assessment in 1999. cation Margaret Spellings, “is evidence that No Child
Enrollment, Interna-
T
in the 2004–05 school year, 83 cents
he cost of funding education in > continued on page 2
tional Baccalaureate America’s public elementary and out of every dollar spent on education is
and other promising secondary schools is the topic of estimated to come from state and local U.S. Department of Education “Choosing the Best Apple”
contributions. The federal government’s 400 Maryland Ave., S.W.
initiatives designed to a recently revised publication from the
increase the rigor and Education Department. share is 8.3 percent, which has risen by
more than one-third since 1990–91, when
Washington, DC 20202
The Achiever is a monthly publication
New Mexico School Turns Around Lagging
relevance of the high
school years.
10 Facts About K–12 Education Funding
provides an overview of how kindergarten it was 5.7 percent. for parents and community leaders Scores With Schoolwide Reform Efforts
from the Office of Communications
through 12th-grade education is funded in The brochure also specifies the funding and Outreach, U.S. Department of
Each month, Education
the United States. This full-color brochure levels under the No Child Left Behind Act, Education (ED). Margaret Spellings, Two years ago when New Mexico first administered its
News Parents Can Use Secretary.
‘‘
includes an explanation of each fact along which has increased every year since it was criterion-referenced tests to measure how well students
showcases schools and enacted in January 2002—from $22 billion Comments? Contact Nicole Ashby, were faring against state standards, students at
with a graph to
We want
school districts from to the $25.3 billion proposed for fiscal year Editor, (202) 205-0676 (fax), or
illustrate it. For NoChildLeftBehind@ed.gov. Chimayo Elementary School scored far below
across the country; con- instance, one 2006. Federal dollars under NCLB are sent average. Just a little over a third (37.5 percent)
versations with school officials, parents and
education experts; and advice and free
graph breaks
down the
to states and school districts through a
variety of programs, as described briefly in
Address changes and subscriptions?
Contact (877) 4ED-PUBS, or
edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
to represent demonstrated proficiency in both reading and
mathematics.
resources for parents and educators. amount of
funding
the publication, including Title I (for high-
poverty schools), Reading First, Improving
Information on ED programs, resources
ourselves in But by the following year, in
To learn about viewing provided for Teacher Quality Grants, and English
Language Acquisition.
and events? Contact (800) USA-
LEARN, or usa_learn@ed.gov. a positive 2004, the school had made dra-
matic increases. Fourth-graders—the
top comparable
schools statewide by 20
... way.
’’
options, including webcasts, education by The Achiever contains news and benchmark initially set by the state for measuring points.
visit www.ed.gov and click federal, state For other facts about funding public information about and from public
and private organizations for the
elementary school achievement—scored well above the Gains at this predominantly His-
on “Press Room,” then and local education, download a copy of 10 Facts
reader's information. Inclusion does norm: 75 percent proved mastery of reading, and 87.5 panic and economically disadvantaged
levels. About K–12 Education Funding at
“Audio & Video,” or call not constitute an endorsement by the
percent of math, overall doubling the average from the school were so dramatic that it attracted the attention of
According www.ed.gov, or order it toll-free at U.S. Department of Education of any
toll-free (800) USA-LEARN. products or services offered or views previous year. Chimayo’s scores outranked those of Just for the Kids, a program of the National Center for
to the brochure, (877) 4ED-PUBS with identification
expressed.
number EA 0484B. > continued on page 3
6
Achieve Sept.Final 9/1/05 3:41 PM Page 2

> continued from page 1 > continued from page 1

Left Behind is working—it is helping to raise Spellings said, there remains room for growth: long-term trend report are described by gen- Educational Account- The work to which Coriz programs is especially acute because local Clockwise, from the top: Principal Salazar; first-grader Jasmin

the achievement of young students of every “We are at the beginning of the journey and der, race/ethnicity and parents’ highest level ability, which held an refers largely began in the drug use and unemployment are at high and fifth-grader Christopher; teacher Melanie Martinez (center,

race and from every type of family back-
ground. And the achievement gap that has
persisted for decades in the younger years
between minorities and whites has shrunk
to its smallest size in history.”
Although there is reason for celebration,
honors ceremony this 2003–04 school year with a levels, sources say. background) with students; the Coriz family; and students Santiago
certainly have room for improvement, particu- of education. The “main” NAEP, the other
and Cherish. On page 1, Jasmin and cousin Jeremiah. Photos by
larly at the high school level. We must support basic type of the report that tests by grade summer for Chimayo grant from the U.S. Depart- Coriz, who was born and raised in Chi-
Debora Falco.
older students with the same can-do attitude rather than by age and includes state results, and four other New ment of Education that helped mayo and has two daughters at the elemen-
that helped their younger brothers and sisters.” will be released later this fall. Mexico schools. Just for to put into place several initia- tary school, considers the
Based on a representative sample of stu- the Kids recognizes tives for a schoolwide reform. school-community challenging at first to move from group to
For the full results of the 2004 report, visit
dents aged nine, 13 and 17, results on the http://nces.ed.gov and scroll down the menu to consistently high-per- The funding allowed the partnership a individualized instruction but is thankful for
“Nation’s Report Card.” forming schools that school to buy new math and necessary the teacher support—number two on the
stand head and shoul- reading curricula materials, Parent involvement had been improvement plan—for easing the shift.

Photo courtesy of National PTA

ders above their demo- including a computer program the number-three concern in “You just have to learn to work with it
“parents” is men- So we have a double duty: to advocate for
Spellings Addresses graphic counterparts. that tracked student progress; 2003 on Chimayo’s school- because you find that after a while the old
tioned 651 times all children, not just our own; and to make According to the provide teacher training for wide plan identifying 30 methods are not necessarily working,”
PTA Convention in No Child Left our communities care about all children as state’s 2005 adequate the new curricula; and hire a areas for improvement. Malcolm added.
Behind. The law well. ... How do we make people care about yearly progress (AYP) report released in behavioral specialist to help cut down on Number one on the list Teacher support also included training

I
n a speech given early this summer at
the annual National PTA Convention
in Columbus, Ohio, Secretary Spellings
spoke about bridging the divide between
parents and their children’s schools. Below
is an excerpt of her remarks.
... I know how hard it is to compete for
attention in the high-speed, interconnected,
I-Pod-loving, 24-7 media-rich world in
which we are raising our children. ... It’s
not easy to stay involved in your child’s
school, especially if you’re a sin-
gle parent like
puts parents front something they don’t consider to be their August, Chimayo has met AYP goals for the discipline issues that would detract from was another need com- on the new reading and math curricula,
and center! ... problem? ... At some point in the future, if 40 second year in a row. This accomplishment learning. mon to schools across which Principal Salazar considers more
I recently percent of Americans don’t have the skills to comes in the face of higher standards and The decision making process for school the country, especially to rigorous and better aligned with their
encountered a hold a job, we’ll see crime, hopelessness and more students—in grades three through improvement, describes Principal Ruben rural and disadvantaged objectives. He requires every teacher
mother who told despair on the rise. ... six—being examined this year. (2005 test Salazar, who joined Chimayo two years ago ones like Chimayo: at the end of each day to assess
me that her school The good news is that three years into this score results were not available at the time when its principal retired, is “a basket of technology. students’ knowledge of the materials.
“had some of those Nickleby kids.” ... It was law, we are making real progress, not only in this article was written.) apples, and it’s just choosing the best apple “There’s a demand for Constant testing, he believes, offers a
a reference to No Child Left Behind kids. attitudes but also in results. ... “It’s no coincidence,” said Suzanne Coriz, that’s going to benefit your school.” students to know a lot more two-way benefit: “It cuts down on test
NCLB. It was said in a derogatory way, ... In New York, the achievement gap in who serves on Chimayo’s Parent Advisory He also credits two after-school programs than there used to be,” said anxiety. ... We also get an assessment of the
like the school was fourth-grade English continues to close. Council. “A lot of work has been put into by Para Los Niños and the Boys & Girls mar- veteran teacher Janet Malcolm, child’s level—that way, parents, students
being dragged down African-American and Hispanic students espe- this by the staff, the principal, the parents. Club, which has a building adjoined to the riage for a who has taught at Chimayo for the and the administrators are informed as to
because of these cially continue to make significant gains. For Everyone is getting involved, and I think school’s gymnasium. healthy popu- past 27 years. “There’s so much technol- where the child is.”
children. the first time, a majority achieved all the stan- that’s why it’s improved.” Located in an outlying area with urban lation.“We work ogy and other things that students need to Salazar plans to purchase additional

ow?
I was, or a So who are these dards, including over 57 percent of Hispanic neighbor Sante Fe more than 20 miles away, very hard and we want to learn at an earlier age.” programs, including one for science learn-
parent who
u Kn
Did Yo
“Nickleby” kids? students, up from 26 percent in 1999. We’ve Chimayo depends on the support of these represent ourselves in a positive rather than To bridge the digital divide, with federal ing, that develop critical thinking skills.
ts
doesn’t speak 0 0 s tuden The voiceless seen similar gains in Maryland and Georgia as organizations along with another community a negative way,” she said. “So now we’re and private support, Chimayo added a com- His struggle is a constant search for
,0
English, or a at ely 250 ge of free ones who slipped well. ... partner, the Chimayo Youth Corps, to help just kind of all saying ‘No more. It’s time puter lab, installed at least three computers in resources that will improve learning and
x im anta
Appro oo k adv o p tions
working mom. ea r t oic e through the Nationally, students are taking advantage of provide tutoring and enrichment activities that we better the community by putting every classroom, provided laptops to teachers, meet ever-increasing demands.
last y ool ch Act.
The PTA is the rin g or sch e ft B ehind system because what the law has to offer. For instance, in for its children at risk. The need for such more effort into the schooling.’” designated one faculty member as the tech- Having seen some progress in her chil-
tuto ild L
bridge between th e No Ch c ation, Off
ice
they were 2003–04, 220,000 students across the nation Coriz and her husband have served on nology coordinator, and purchased software dren’s performances, Coriz agrees that there
under
u .
of Ed cation
the crazy, over- artment ndary Edu Chimayo’s Parent Advisory Council for the to help with grading and lesson planning. is much more road to tread in Chimayo’s
.D ep c o someone else’s got free tutoring because of No Child Left
e: U.S nd Se
scheduled life we Sourc lementary a past four years since it started. The 10-mem- Malcolm said the computer program has journey toward student achievement.
of E problem. Behind. And at least 30,000 students have
all now lead and They were in someone enrolled in new schools. That number contin- ber council addresses every school-related been a valuable supplemental tool for instruc- “I know we can still improve,” she said.
the highly confus- else’s school. But you know what? ues to rise. As soon as more parents take issue, from safety to special education, and it tion because it identifies a student’s learning “But we’re moving there. We’re moving
ing, often intimidating They weren’t. And aren’t. They are in advantage of No Child Left Behind, achieve- recently organized a “lunch-buddy” system level, selects assignments accordingly and down the right path.”
school system. almost every school. Your child’s school. ment is going to go up even more. ... that enlists parent volunteers as mentors tracks achievement. She admits that it was —BY NICOLE ASHBY
... Once you enter the schoolhouse My daughters’ schools. And they are gifted during lunchtime.
For the full speech, visit www.ed.gov and click on
doors, it can be like walking into a wall of young people with much to offer our com- “Speeches” for the June 24, 2005, remarks.
“edu-speak.” I can understand why parents
get frustrated. It sometimes feels like we’re
all speaking a different language. ...
... And it’s our job to make sure parents
understand what [the jargon] means. ...
No Child Left Behind gives parents
munities, our country and our world. ...

AROUND THE COUNTRY

ALABAMA—Fourth-
through 12th-graders in Alaba-
information about their school’s perform-
ma can get the homework help
ance; gives parents options if their local
they need seven days a week,
school isn’t serving their needs; and pro-
from 3 p.m. to midnight, by
vides parents free tutoring for their children logging on to a free online
who are struggling. In fact, the word
tutoring service. Students
receive live assistance from
trained professionals in math,
page 2 page
science, social studies and English. The
service is also available to students enrolled
in college preparatory classes and trying to
earn their GED. The program, which began
in 2002 in 10 libraries, will expand to all
219 public libraries this school year, thanks
to a pledge from the Alabama Public
Library System.
3 page
NORTH & SOUTH DAKOTA—
Students in grades K–12 along the North
Dakota-South Dakota border will be able to
attend schools in either state, due to a new
cross-border enrollment program that allows
students living in a border school district to
attend a school in the neighboring state’s bor-
dering district. North Dakota already main-
tains a similar agreement with Montana and
Chimayo Elementary School
Minnesota. Some students live closer to the > Grade Span: K–6 > Special Education Students: 7%
state border than to their current schools, trav- > Locale: Small town > Percentage Proficient: In mathe-
matics, 87.5%; in reading, 75%
eling in one county, for instance, as far as 40 > Total Students: 239
(based on fourth-graders
miles to their district schools. For financial
> Race/Ethnicity Enrollment: assessed on the 2004 state
purposes, each state will count the other’s 98% Hispanic, 2% white exam).
students as if they are state residents, and the
> Free or Reduced-Price > Interesting Fact: In math,
district will receive state aid for those students.
Lunch Eligible: 100% student scores jumped 50
Districts that lose students will no longer percentage points in just one
need to negotiate out-of-state tuition rates. > English Language
year of school reform efforts.
Learners: 85%
4
Achieve Sept.Final 9/1/05 3:41 PM Page 2

> continued from page 1 > continued from page 1

Left Behind is working—it is helping to raise Spellings said, there remains room for growth: long-term trend report are described by gen- Educational Account- The work to which Coriz programs is especially acute because local Clockwise, from the top: Principal Salazar; first-grader Jasmin

the achievement of young students of every “We are at the beginning of the journey and der, race/ethnicity and parents’ highest level ability, which held an refers largely began in the drug use and unemployment are at high and fifth-grader Christopher; teacher Melanie Martinez (center,

race and from every type of family back-
ground. And the achievement gap that has
persisted for decades in the younger years
between minorities and whites has shrunk
to its smallest size in history.”
Although there is reason for celebration,
honors ceremony this 2003–04 school year with a levels, sources say. background) with students; the Coriz family; and students Santiago
certainly have room for improvement, particu- of education. The “main” NAEP, the other
and Cherish. On page 1, Jasmin and cousin Jeremiah. Photos by
larly at the high school level. We must support basic type of the report that tests by grade summer for Chimayo grant from the U.S. Depart- Coriz, who was born and raised in Chi-
Debora Falco.
older students with the same can-do attitude rather than by age and includes state results, and four other New ment of Education that helped mayo and has two daughters at the elemen-
that helped their younger brothers and sisters.” will be released later this fall. Mexico schools. Just for to put into place several initia- tary school, considers the
Based on a representative sample of stu- the Kids recognizes tives for a schoolwide reform. school-community challenging at first to move from group to
For the full results of the 2004 report, visit
dents aged nine, 13 and 17, results on the http://nces.ed.gov and scroll down the menu to consistently high-per- The funding allowed the partnership a individualized instruction but is thankful for
“Nation’s Report Card.” forming schools that school to buy new math and necessary the teacher support—number two on the
stand head and shoul- reading curricula materials, Parent involvement had been improvement plan—for easing the shift.

Photo courtesy of National PTA

ders above their demo- including a computer program the number-three concern in “You just have to learn to work with it
“parents” is men- So we have a double duty: to advocate for
Spellings Addresses graphic counterparts. that tracked student progress; 2003 on Chimayo’s school- because you find that after a while the old
tioned 651 times all children, not just our own; and to make According to the provide teacher training for wide plan identifying 30 methods are not necessarily working,”
PTA Convention in No Child Left our communities care about all children as state’s 2005 adequate the new curricula; and hire a areas for improvement. Malcolm added.
Behind. The law well. ... How do we make people care about yearly progress (AYP) report released in behavioral specialist to help cut down on Number one on the list Teacher support also included training

I
n a speech given early this summer at
the annual National PTA Convention
in Columbus, Ohio, Secretary Spellings
spoke about bridging the divide between
parents and their children’s schools. Below
is an excerpt of her remarks.
... I know how hard it is to compete for
attention in the high-speed, interconnected,
I-Pod-loving, 24-7 media-rich world in
which we are raising our children. ... It’s
not easy to stay involved in your child’s
school, especially if you’re a sin-
gle parent like
puts parents front something they don’t consider to be their August, Chimayo has met AYP goals for the discipline issues that would detract from was another need com- on the new reading and math curricula,
and center! ... problem? ... At some point in the future, if 40 second year in a row. This accomplishment learning. mon to schools across which Principal Salazar considers more
I recently percent of Americans don’t have the skills to comes in the face of higher standards and The decisionmaking process for school the country, especially to rigorous and better aligned with their
encountered a hold a job, we’ll see crime, hopelessness and more students—in grades three through improvement, describes Principal Ruben rural and disadvantaged objectives. He requires every teacher
mother who told despair on the rise. ... six—being examined this year. (2005 test Salazar, who joined Chimayo two years ago ones like Chimayo: at the end of each day to assess
me that her school The good news is that three years into this score results were not available at the time when its principal retired, is “a basket of technology. students’ knowledge of the materials.
“had some of those Nickleby kids.” ... It was law, we are making real progress, not only in this article was written.) apples, and it’s just choosing the best apple “There’s a demand for Constant testing, he believes, offers a
a reference to No Child Left Behind kids. attitudes but also in results. ... “It’s no coincidence,” said Suzanne Coriz, that’s going to benefit your school.” students to know a lot more two-way benefit: “It cuts down on test
NCLB. It was said in a derogatory way, ... In New York, the achievement gap in who serves on Chimayo’s Parent Advisory He also credits two after-school programs than there used to be,” said anxiety. ... We also get an assessment of the
like the school was fourth-grade English continues to close. Council. “A lot of work has been put into by Para Los Niños and the Boys & Girls mar- veteran teacher Janet Malcolm, child’s level—that way, parents, students
being dragged down African-American and Hispanic students espe- this by the staff, the principal, the parents. Club, which has a building adjoined to the riage for a who has taught at Chimayo for the and the administrators are informed as to
because of these cially continue to make significant gains. For Everyone is getting involved, and I think school’s gymnasium. healthy popu- past 27 years. “There’s so much technol- where the child is.”
children. the first time, a majority achieved all the stan- that’s why it’s improved.” Located in an outlying area with urban lation.“We work ogy and other things that students need to Salazar plans to purchase additional

ow?
I was, or a So who are these dards, including over 57 percent of Hispanic neighbor Sante Fe more than 20 miles away, very hard and we want to learn at an earlier age.” programs, including one for science learn-
parent who
u Kn
Did Yo
“Nickleby” kids? students, up from 26 percent in 1999. We’ve Chimayo depends on the support of these represent ourselves in a positive rather than To bridge the digital divide, with federal ing, that develop critical thinking skills.
ts
doesn’t speak 0 0 s tuden The voiceless seen similar gains in Maryland and Georgia as organizations along with another community a negative way,” she said. “So now we’re and private support, Chimayo added a com- His struggle is a constant search for
,0
English, or a at ely 250 ge of free ones who slipped well. ... partner, the Chimayo Youth Corps, to help just kind of all saying ‘No more. It’s time puter lab, installed at least three computers in resources that will improve learning and
x im anta
Appro oo k adv o p tions
working mom. ea r t oic e through the Nationally, students are taking advantage of provide tutoring and enrichment activities that we better the community by putting every classroom, provided laptops to teachers, meet ever-increasing demands.
last y ool ch Act.
The PTA is the rin g or sch e ft B ehind system because what the law has to offer. For instance, in for its children at risk. The need for such more effort into the schooling.’” designated one faculty member as the tech- Having seen some progress in her chil-
tuto ild L
bridge between th e No Ch c ation, Off
ice
they were 2003–04, 220,000 students across the nation Coriz and her husband have served on nology coordinator, and purchased software dren’s performances, Coriz agrees that there
under
u .
of Ed cation
the crazy, over- artment ndary Edu Chimayo’s Parent Advisory Council for the to help with grading and lesson planning. is much more road to tread in Chimayo’s
.D ep c o someone else’s got free tutoring because of No Child Left
e: U.S nd Se
scheduled life we Sourc lementary a past four years since it started. The 10-mem- Malcolm said the computer program has journey toward student achievement.
of E problem. Behind. And at least 30,000 students have
all now lead and They were in someone enrolled in new schools. That number contin- ber council addresses every school-related been a valuable supplemental tool for instruc- “I know we can still improve,” she said.
the highly confus- else’s school. But you know what? ues to rise. As soon as more parents take issue, from safety to special education, and it tion because it identifies a student’s learning “But we’re moving there. We’re moving
ing, often intimidating They weren’t. And aren’t. They are in advantage of No Child Left Behind, achieve- recently organized a “lunch-buddy” system level, selects assignments accordingly and down the right path.”
school system. almost every school. Your child’s school. ment is going to go up even more. ... that enlists parent volunteers as mentors tracks achievement. She admits that it was —BY NICOLE ASHBY
... Once you enter the schoolhouse My daughters’ schools. And they are gifted during lunchtime.
For the full speech, visit www.ed.gov and click on
doors, it can be like walking into a wall of young people with much to offer our com- “Speeches” for the June 24, 2005, remarks.
“edu-speak.” I can understand why parents
get frustrated. It sometimes feels like we’re
all speaking a different language. ...
... And it’s our job to make sure parents
understand what [the jargon] means. ...
No Child Left Behind gives parents
munities, our country and our world. ...

AROUND THE COUNTRY

ALABAMA—Fourth-
through 12th-graders in Alaba-
information about their school’s perform-
ma can get the homework help
ance; gives parents options if their local
they need seven days a week,
school isn’t serving their needs; and pro-
from 3 p.m. to midnight, by
vides parents free tutoring for their children logging on to a free online
who are struggling. In fact, the word
tutoring service. Students
receive live assistance from
trained professionals in math,
page 2 page
science, social studies and English. The
service is also available to students enrolled
in college preparatory classes and trying to
earn their GED. The program, which began
in 2002 in 10 libraries, will expand to all
219 public libraries this school year, thanks
to a pledge from the Alabama Public
Library System.
3 page
NORTH & SOUTH DAKOTA—
Students in grades K–12 along the North
Dakota-South Dakota border will be able to
attend schools in either state, due to a new
cross-border enrollment program that allows
students living in a border school district to
attend a school in the neighboring state’s bor-
dering district. North Dakota already main-
tains a similar agreement with Montana and
Chimayo Elementary School
Minnesota. Some students live closer to the > Grade Span: K–6 > Special Education Students: 7%
state border than to their current schools, trav- > Locale: Small town > Percentage Proficient: In mathe-
matics, 87.5%; in reading, 75%
eling in one county, for instance, as far as 40 > Total Students: 239
(based on fourth-graders
miles to their district schools. For financial
> Race/Ethnicity Enrollment: assessed on the 2004 state
purposes, each state will count the other’s 98% Hispanic, 2% white exam).
students as if they are state residents, and the
> Free or Reduced-Price > Interesting Fact: In math,
district will receive state aid for those students.
Lunch Eligible: 100% student scores jumped 50
Districts that lose students will no longer percentage points in just one
need to negotiate out-of-state tuition rates. > English Language
year of school reform efforts.
Learners: 85%
4
Achieve Sept.Final 9/1/05 3:41 PM Page 2

> continued from page 1 > continued from page 1

Left Behind is working—it is helping to raise Spellings said, there remains room for growth: long-term trend report are described by gen- Educational Account- The work to which Coriz programs is especially acute because local Clockwise, from the top: Principal Salazar; first-grader Jasmin

the achievement of young students of every “We are at the beginning of the journey and der, race/ethnicity and parents’ highest level ability, which held an refers largely began in the drug use and unemployment are at high and fifth-grader Christopher; teacher Melanie Martinez (center,

race and from every type of family back-
ground. And the achievement gap that has
persisted for decades in the younger years
between minorities and whites has shrunk
to its smallest size in history.”
Although there is reason for celebration,
honors ceremony this 2003–04 school year with a levels, sources say. background) with students; the Coriz family; and students Santiago
certainly have room for improvement, particu- of education. The “main” NAEP, the other
and Cherish. On page 1, Jasmin and cousin Jeremiah. Photos by
larly at the high school level. We must support basic type of the report that tests by grade summer for Chimayo grant from the U.S. Depart- Coriz, who was born and raised in Chi-
Debora Falco.
older students with the same can-do attitude rather than by age and includes state results, and four other New ment of Education that helped mayo and has two daughters at the elemen-
that helped their younger brothers and sisters.” will be released later this fall. Mexico schools. Just for to put into place several initia- tary school, considers the
Based on a representative sample of stu- the Kids recognizes tives for a schoolwide reform. school-community challenging at first to move from group to
For the full results of the 2004 report, visit
dents aged nine, 13 and 17, results on the http://nces.ed.gov and scroll down the menu to consistently high-per- The funding allowed the partnership a individualized instruction but is thankful for
“Nation’s Report Card.” forming schools that school to buy new math and necessary the teacher support—number two on the
stand head and shoul- reading curricula materials, Parent involvement had been improvement plan—for easing the shift.

Photo courtesy of National PTA

ders above their demo- including a computer program the number-three concern in “You just have to learn to work with it
“parents” is men- So we have a double duty: to advocate for
Spellings Addresses graphic counterparts. that tracked student progress; 2003 on Chimayo’s school- because you find that after a while the old
tioned 651 times all children, not just our own; and to make According to the provide teacher training for wide plan identifying 30 methods are not necessarily working,”
PTA Convention in No Child Left our communities care about all children as state’s 2005 adequate the new curricula; and hire a areas for improvement. Malcolm added.
Behind. The law well. ... How do we make people care about yearly progress (AYP) report released in behavioral specialist to help cut down on Number one on the list Teacher support also included training

I
n a speech given early this summer at
the annual National PTA Convention
in Columbus, Ohio, Secretary Spellings
spoke about bridging the divide between
parents and their children’s schools. Below
is an excerpt of her remarks.
... I know how hard it is to compete for
attention in the high-speed, interconnected,
I-Pod-loving, 24-7 media-rich world in
which we are raising our children. ... It’s
not easy to stay involved in your child’s
school, especially if you’re a sin-
gle parent like
puts parents front something they don’t consider to be their August, Chimayo has met AYP goals for the discipline issues that would detract from was another need com- on the new reading and math curricula,
and center! ... problem? ... At some point in the future, if 40 second year in a row. This accomplishment learning. mon to schools across which Principal Salazar considers more
I recently percent of Americans don’t have the skills to comes in the face of higher standards and The decision making process for school the country, especially to rigorous and better aligned with their
encountered a hold a job, we’ll see crime, hopelessness and more students—in grades three through improvement, describes Principal Ruben rural and disadvantaged objectives. He requires every teacher
mother who told despair on the rise. ... six—being examined this year. (2005 test Salazar, who joined Chimayo two years ago ones like Chimayo: at the end of each day to assess
me that her school The good news is that three years into this score results were not available at the time when its principal retired, is “a basket of technology. students’ knowledge of the materials.
“had some of those Nickleby kids.” ... It was law, we are making real progress, not only in this article was written.) apples, and it’s just choosing the best apple “There’s a demand for Constant testing, he believes, offers a
a reference to No Child Left Behind kids. attitudes but also in results. ... “It’s no coincidence,” said Suzanne Coriz, that’s going to benefit your school.” students to know a lot more two-way benefit: “It cuts down on test
NCLB. It was said in a derogatory way, ... In New York, the achievement gap in who serves on Chimayo’s Parent Advisory He also credits two after-school programs than there used to be,” said anxiety. ... We also get an assessment of the
like the school was fourth-grade English continues to close. Council. “A lot of work has been put into by Para Los Niños and the Boys & Girls mar- veteran teacher Janet Malcolm, child’s level—that way, parents, students
being dragged down African-American and Hispanic students espe- this by the staff, the principal, the parents. Club, which has a building adjoined to the riage for a who has taught at Chimayo for the and the administrators are informed as to
because of these cially continue to make significant gains. For Everyone is getting involved, and I think school’s gymnasium. healthy popu- past 27 years. “There’s so much technol- where the child is.”
children. the first time, a majority achieved all the stan- that’s why it’s improved.” Located in an outlying area with urban lation.“We work ogy and other things that students need to Salazar plans to purchase additional

ow?
I was, or a So who are these dards, including over 57 percent of Hispanic neighbor Sante Fe more than 20 miles away, very hard and we want to learn at an earlier age.” programs, including one for science learn-
parent who
u Kn
Did Yo
“Nickleby” kids? students, up from 26 percent in 1999. We’ve Chimayo depends on the support of these represent ourselves in a positive rather than To bridge the digital divide, with federal ing, that develop critical thinking skills.
ts
doesn’t speak 0 0 s tuden The voiceless seen similar gains in Maryland and Georgia as organizations along with another community a negative way,” she said. “So now we’re and private support, Chimayo added a com- His struggle is a constant search for
,0
English, or a at ely 250 ge of free ones who slipped well. ... partner, the Chimayo Youth Corps, to help just kind of all saying ‘No more. It’s time puter lab, installed at least three computers in resources that will improve learning and
x im anta
Appro oo k adv o p tions
working mom. ea r t oic e through the Nationally, students are taking advantage of provide tutoring and enrichment activities that we better the community by putting every classroom, provided laptops to teachers, meet ever-increasing demands.
last y ool ch Act.
The PTA is the rin g or sch e ft B ehind system because what the law has to offer. For instance, in for its children at risk. The need for such more effort into the schooling.’” designated one faculty member as the tech- Having seen some progress in her chil-
tuto ild L
bridge between th e No Ch c ation, Off
ice
they were 2003–04, 220,000 students across the nation Coriz and her husband have served on nology coordinator, and purchased software dren’s performances, Coriz agrees that there
under
u .
of Ed cation
the crazy, over- artment ndary Edu Chimayo’s Parent Advisory Council for the to help with grading and lesson planning. is much more road to tread in Chimayo’s
.D ep c o someone else’s got free tutoring because of No Child Left
e: U.S nd Se
scheduled life we Sourc lementary a past four years since it started. The 10-mem- Malcolm said the computer program has journey toward student achievement.
of E problem. Behind. And at least 30,000 students have
all now lead and They were in someone enrolled in new schools. That number contin- ber council addresses every school-related been a valuable supplemental tool for instruc- “I know we can still improve,” she said.
the highly confus- else’s school. But you know what? ues to rise. As soon as more parents take issue, from safety to special education, and it tion because it identifies a student’s learning “But we’re moving there. We’re moving
ing, often intimidating They weren’t. And aren’t. They are in advantage of No Child Left Behind, achieve- recently organized a “lunch-buddy” system level, selects assignments accordingly and down the right path.”
school system. almost every school. Your child’s school. ment is going to go up even more. ... that enlists parent volunteers as mentors tracks achievement. She admits that it was —BY NICOLE ASHBY
... Once you enter the schoolhouse My daughters’ schools. And they are gifted during lunchtime.
For the full speech, visit www.ed.gov and click on
doors, it can be like walking into a wall of young people with much to offer our com- “Speeches” for the June 24, 2005, remarks.
“edu-speak.” I can understand why parents
get frustrated. It sometimes feels like we’re
all speaking a different language. ...
... And it’s our job to make sure parents
understand what [the jargon] means. ...
No Child Left Behind gives parents
munities, our country and our world. ...

AROUND THE COUNTRY

ALABAMA—Fourth-
through 12th-graders in Alaba-
information about their school’s perform-
ma can get the homework help
ance; gives parents options if their local
they need seven days a week,
school isn’t serving their needs; and pro-
from 3 p.m. to midnight, by
vides parents free tutoring for their children logging on to a free online
who are struggling. In fact, the word
tutoring service. Students
receive live assistance from
trained professionals in math,
page 2 page
science, social studies and English. The
service is also available to students enrolled
in college preparatory classes and trying to
earn their GED. The program, which began
in 2002 in 10 libraries, will expand to all
219 public libraries this school year, thanks
to a pledge from the Alabama Public
Library System.
3 page
NORTH & SOUTH DAKOTA—
Students in grades K–12 along the North
Dakota-South Dakota border will be able to
attend schools in either state, due to a new
cross-border enrollment program that allows
students living in a border school district to
attend a school in the neighboring state’s bor-
dering district. North Dakota already main-
tains a similar agreement with Montana and
Chimayo Elementary School
Minnesota. Some students live closer to the > Grade Span: K–6 > Special Education Students: 7%
state border than to their current schools, trav- > Locale: Small town > Percentage Proficient: In mathe-
matics, 87.5%; in reading, 75%
eling in one county, for instance, as far as 40 > Total Students: 239
(based on fourth-graders
miles to their district schools. For financial
> Race/Ethnicity Enrollment: assessed on the 2004 state
purposes, each state will count the other’s 98% Hispanic, 2% white exam).
students as if they are state residents, and the
> Free or Reduced-Price > Interesting Fact: In math,
district will receive state aid for those students.
Lunch Eligible: 100% student scores jumped 50
Districts that lose students will no longer percentage points in just one
need to negotiate out-of-state tuition rates. > English Language
year of school reform efforts.
Learners: 85%
4

Achieve Sept.Final 9/1/05 3:41 PM
Calendar September 17
Constitution and Citizenship
Day, a new observance
legislated by Congress this
past May. Education institu-
tions receiving federal funds
are required to “hold an edu-
cational program pertaining
to the U.S. Constitution on
September 17 of each year,”
the new law states. Among
other resources, the FREE
Web site—www.ed.gov/free—
offers a special page of federal
resources for teaching and
learning about the 1787 doc-
ument that shaped America’s
democratic government.
September 24
National Book Festival,
sponsored by the Library
of Congress and hosted by
First Lady Laura Bush on the
National Mall in Washington,
D.C. Famous guests include
authors Tom Clancy, David
McCullough and R.L. Stine.
For details, visit www.loc.gov
and click on “National Book
Festival,” or call (888) 714-
4696.
October 20
Lights On Afterschool!, a
nationwide event saluting after-
school programs. For informa-
tion on hosting a local event
along with suggested ideas and
supporting materials, visit
www.afterschoolalliance.org
or call (202) 347-1002.
October 16–22
National Character Counts!
Week, a celebration of the
importance of developing
good character in youths.
To receive free resources for
conducting local activities, visit
www.charactercounts.org or
call (800) 711-2670.
page 5 page
O C
Page 1
QA
& G L O S S A R Y
What if my child’s school
does not make adequate
yearly progress?
U Results Show Progress
nder the No Child Left Behind
Act, by the start of the school
year parents should be notified
as to whether their child’s school has
made adequate yearly progress (AYP).
Schools that have not made AYP for
two consecutive school years are identi-
(
fied for improvement. While school
officials must develop a plan to turn
around the school, every student in a
school receiving Title I funds must be
given the option to transfer to another
public school in the district that has not
been identified as needing improvement.
The district must provide transportation
News Show Offers Back-to-School Tips
T
he Department’s
monthly television
WHAT
program begins
the 2004–05 season with
a special “Back-to-
School” edition that
focuses on high school
learning. The September
show of Education News
Parents Can Use will
offer parents of middle
and high school-aged
students tips on course selection; questions
to ask teachers and principals; and advice
for keeping students on track.
The broadcast will showcase teachers and
administrators from schools that are suc-
cessfully applying the No Child Left Behind
principles of high standards for all stu-
dents and evidence-based approach-
es to learning. It will also highlight
such programs as State Scholars,
Advanced Placement, Community
CO
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION POSTAGE AND FEES PAID
ED PUBS The U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
P.O. BOX 1398
JESSUP, MD 20794-1398
EDUCATION
Permit NO. G-17 The U.S.
OFFICIAL BUSINESS VOL.4, NO.10 SEPTEMBER 2005
PRESORTED DEPARTMENT
PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE $300 OF
FIRST CLASS EDUCATION
up to certain spending limits. Parents
should be notified about their choices
“not later than the first day of the school VOL.4, NO.10 SEPTEMBER 2005 www.ed.gov
year following such identification,” the
law requires.
If the school does not make AYP
for three years, the district must offer
Spellings Says
Data Are “Evidence That
No Child Left Behind
Nation’s Report Card I N S I D E
students from low-income families sup-
2 Spellings at National PTA
plemental educational services—free Is Working” Convention
tutoring and other academic services
Around the Country—
outside of the regular school day.
T
he latest results on the Nation’s Report > Thirteen-year-old students scored higher in Alabama and North and
Schools that remain “in improvement” South Dakota
for additional years are subject to correc- Card show that students have made sig- math in 2004 than in any previous assessment
tive action and restructuring. nificant gains since the enactment of No year, with considerable increases occurring since 3 New Mexico’s Chimayo
( Child Left Behind and, in some cases, in 1999. But reading scores for this cohort remain Elementary School
AYP adequate yearly progress: the history of the assessment program, unchanged from the last assessment. 5 Calendar
the annual level of improvement,
which began charting educational > Overall performance of 17-year-old
Q&A—Adequate Yearly
progress in 1971 in reading and 1973 in students in both subjects remained Progress
as measured on student assessments
mathematics. unchanged; however, black and Hispanic
and other academic indicators, set Education News Parents
Released in July by the U.S. Depart- students in this age group made progress
by each state that a school must Can Use
ment of Education’s National Center for since the initial assessment.
achieve. 6 Resource—The Facts
Education Statistics, data from the 2004 > Many of the differences in achievement
About K–12 Funding
long-term National Assessment of Educational between black or Hispanic students and their
Progress (NAEP) revealed: white counterparts have narrowed, as the average
> On average, nine-year-old students scored scores for minority student groups have increased
The Facts About K–12 Education Funding higher in both subjects in 2004 than in any pre- over time.
vious assessment year, with substantial increases “Today’s report card,” said U.S. Secretary of Edu-
College Access/Dual occurring since the last assessment in 1999. cation Margaret Spellings, “is evidence that No Child
Enrollment, Interna-
T
in the 2004–05 school year, 83 cents
he cost of funding education in > continued on page 2
tional Baccalaureate America’s public elementary and out of every dollar spent on education is
and other promising secondary schools is the topic of estimated to come from state and local U.S. Department of Education “Choosing the Best Apple”
contributions. The federal government’s 400 Maryland Ave., S.W.
initiatives designed to a recently revised publication from the
increase the rigor and Education Department. share is 8.3 percent, which has risen by
more than one-third since 1990–91, when
Washington, DC 20202
The Achiever is a monthly publication
New Mexico School Turns Around Lagging
relevance of the high
school years.
10 Facts About K–12 Education Funding
provides an overview of how kindergarten it was 5.7 percent. for parents and community leaders Scores With Schoolwide Reform Efforts
from the Office of Communications
through 12th-grade education is funded in The brochure also specifies the funding and Outreach, U.S. Department of
Each month, Education
the United States. This full-color brochure levels under the No Child Left Behind Act, Education (ED). Margaret Spellings, Two years ago when New Mexico first administered its
News Parents Can Use Secretary.
‘‘
includes an explanation of each fact along which has increased every year since it was criterion-referenced tests to measure how well students
showcases schools and enacted in January 2002—from $22 billion Comments? Contact Nicole Ashby, were faring against state standards, students at
with a graph to
We want
school districts from to the $25.3 billion proposed for fiscal year Editor, (202) 205-0676 (fax), or
illustrate it. For NoChildLeftBehind@ed.gov. Chimayo Elementary School scored far below
across the country; con- instance, one 2006. Federal dollars under NCLB are sent average. Just a little over a third (37.5 percent)
versations with school officials, parents and
education experts; and advice and free
graph breaks
down the
to states and school districts through a
variety of programs, as described briefly in
Address changes and subscriptions?
Contact (877) 4ED-PUBS, or
edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
to represent demonstrated proficiency in both reading and
mathematics.
resources for parents and educators. amount of
funding
the publication, including Title I (for high-
poverty schools), Reading First, Improving
Information on ED programs, resources
ourselves in But by the following year, in
To learn about viewing provided for Teacher Quality Grants, and English
Language Acquisition.
and events? Contact (800) USA-
LEARN, or usa_learn@ed.gov. a positive 2004, the school had made dra-
matic increases. Fourth-graders—the
top comparable
schools statewide by 20
... way.
’’
options, including webcasts, education by The Achiever contains news and benchmark initially set by the state for measuring points.
visit www.ed.gov and click federal, state For other facts about funding public information about and from public
and private organizations for the
elementary school achievement—scored well above the Gains at this predominantly His-
on “Press Room,” then and local education, download a copy of 10 Facts
reader's information. Inclusion does norm: 75 percent proved mastery of reading, and 87.5 panic and economically disadvantaged
levels. About K–12 Education Funding at
“Audio & Video,” or call not constitute an endorsement by the
percent of math, overall doubling the average from the school were so dramatic that it attracted the attention of
According www.ed.gov, or order it toll-free at U.S. Department of Education of any
toll-free (800) USA-LEARN. products or services offered or views previous year. Chimayo’s scores outranked those of Just for the Kids, a program of the National Center for
to the brochure, (877) 4ED-PUBS with identification
expressed.
number EA 0484B. > continued on page 3
6

Achieve Sept.Final 9/1/05 3:41 PM
Calendar September 17
Constitution and Citizenship
Day, a new observance
legislated by Congress this
past May. Education institu-
tions receiving federal funds
are required to “hold an edu-
cational program pertaining
to the U.S. Constitution on
September 17 of each year,”
the new law states. Among
other resources, the FREE
Web site—www.ed.gov/free—
offers a special page of federal
resources for teaching and
learning about the 1787 doc-
ument that shaped America’s
democratic government.
September 24
National Book Festival,
sponsored by the Library
of Congress and hosted by
First Lady Laura Bush on the
National Mall in Washington,
D.C. Famous guests include
authors Tom Clancy, David
McCullough and R.L. Stine.
For details, visit www.loc.gov
and click on “National Book
Festival,” or call (888) 714-
4696.
October 20
Lights On Afterschool!, a
nationwide event saluting after-
school programs. For informa-
tion on hosting a local event
along with suggested ideas and
supporting materials, visit
www.afterschoolalliance.org
or call (202) 347-1002.
October 16–22
National Character Counts!
Week, a celebration of the
importance of developing
good character in youths.
To receive free resources for
conducting local activities, visit
www.charactercounts.org or
call (800) 711-2670.
page 5 page
O C
Page 1
QA
& G L O S S A R Y
What if my child’s school
does not make adequate
yearly progress?
U Results Show Progress
nder the No Child Left Behind
Act, by the start of the school
year parents should be notified
as to whether their child’s school has
made adequate yearly progress (AYP).
Schools that have not made AYP for
two consecutive school years are identi-
(
fied for improvement. While school
officials must develop a plan to turn
around the school, every student in a
school receiving Title I funds must be
given the option to transfer to another
public school in the district that has not
been identified as needing improvement.
The district must provide transportation
News Show Offers Back-to-School Tips
T
he Department’s
monthly television
WHAT
program begins
the 2004–05 season with
a special “Back-to-
School” edition that
focuses on high school
learning. The September
show of Education News
Parents Can Use will
offer parents of middle
and high school-aged
students tips on course selection; questions
to ask teachers and principals; and advice
for keeping students on track.
The broadcast will showcase teachers and
administrators from schools that are suc-
cessfully applying the No Child Left Behind
principles of high standards for all stu-
dents and evidence-based approach-
es to learning. It will also highlight
such programs as State Scholars,
Advanced Placement, Community
CO
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION POSTAGE AND FEES PAID
ED PUBS The U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
P.O. BOX 1398
JESSUP, MD 20794-1398
EDUCATION
Permit NO. G-17 The U.S.
OFFICIAL BUSINESS VOL.4, NO.10 SEPTEMBER 2005
PRESORTED DEPARTMENT
PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE $300 OF
FIRST CLASS EDUCATION
up to certain spending limits. Parents
should be notified about their choices
“not later than the first day of the school VOL.4, NO.10 SEPTEMBER 2005 www.ed.gov
year following such identification,” the
law requires.
If the school does not make AYP
for three years, the district must offer
Spellings Says
Data Are “Evidence That
No Child Left Behind
Nation’s Report Card I N S I D E
students from low-income families sup-
2 Spellings at National PTA
plemental educational services—free Is Working” Convention
tutoring and other academic services
Around the Country—
outside of the regular school day.
T
he latest results on the Nation’s Report > Thirteen-year-old students scored higher in Alabama and North and
Schools that remain “in improvement” South Dakota
for additional years are subject to correc- Card show that students have made sig- math in 2004 than in any previous assessment
tive action and restructuring. nificant gains since the enactment of No year, with considerable increases occurring since 3 New Mexico’s Chimayo
( Child Left Behind and, in some cases, in 1999. But reading scores for this cohort remain Elementary School
AYP adequate yearly progress: the history of the assessment program, unchanged from the last assessment. 5 Calendar
the annual level of improvement,
which began charting educational > Overall performance of 17-year-old
Q&A—Adequate Yearly
progress in 1971 in reading and 1973 in students in both subjects remained Progress
as measured on student assessments
mathematics. unchanged; however, black and Hispanic
and other academic indicators, set Education News Parents
Released in July by the U.S. Depart- students in this age group made progress
by each state that a school must Can Use
ment of Education’s National Center for since the initial assessment.
achieve. 6 Resource—The Facts
Education Statistics, data from the 2004 > Many of the differences in achievement
About K–12 Funding
long-term National Assessment of Educational between black or Hispanic students and their
Progress (NAEP) revealed: white counterparts have narrowed, as the average
> On average, nine-year-old students scored scores for minority student groups have increased
The Facts About K–12 Education Funding higher in both subjects in 2004 than in any pre- over time.
vious assessment year, with substantial increases “Today’s report card,” said U.S. Secretary of Edu-
College Access/Dual occurring since the last assessment in 1999. cation Margaret Spellings, “is evidence that No Child
Enrollment, Interna-
T
in the 2004–05 school year, 83 cents
he cost of funding education in > continued on page 2
tional Baccalaureate America’s public elementary and out of every dollar spent on education is
and other promising secondary schools is the topic of estimated to come from state and local U.S. Department of Education “Choosing the Best Apple”
contributions. The federal government’s 400 Maryland Ave., S.W.
initiatives designed to a recently revised publication from the
increase the rigor and Education Department. share is 8.3 percent, which has risen by
more than one-third since 1990–91, when
Washington, DC 20202
The Achiever is a monthly publication
New Mexico School Turns Around Lagging
relevance of the high
school years.
10 Facts About K–12 Education Funding
provides an overview of how kindergarten it was 5.7 percent. for parents and community leaders Scores With Schoolwide Reform Efforts
from the Office of Communications
through 12th-grade education is funded in The brochure also specifies the funding and Outreach, U.S. Department of
Each month, Education
the United States. This full-color brochure levels under the No Child Left Behind Act, Education (ED). Margaret Spellings, Two years ago when New Mexico first administered its
News Parents Can Use Secretary.
‘‘
includes an explanation of each fact along which has increased every year since it was criterion-referenced tests to measure how well students
showcases schools and enacted in January 2002—from $22 billion Comments? Contact Nicole Ashby, were faring against state standards, students at
with a graph to
We want
school districts from to the $25.3 billion proposed for fiscal year Editor, (202) 205-0676 (fax), or
illustrate it. For NoChildLeftBehind@ed.gov. Chimayo Elementary School scored far below
across the country; con- instance, one 2006. Federal dollars under NCLB are sent average. Just a little over a third (37.5 percent)
versations with school officials, parents and
education experts; and advice and free
graph breaks
down the
to states and school districts through a
variety of programs, as described briefly in
Address changes and subscriptions?
Contact (877) 4ED-PUBS, or
edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
to represent demonstrated proficiency in both reading and
mathematics.
resources for parents and educators. amount of
funding
the publication, including Title I (for high-
poverty schools), Reading First, Improving
Information on ED programs, resources
ourselves in But by the following year, in
To learn about viewing provided for Teacher Quality Grants, and English
Language Acquisition.
and events? Contact (800) USA-
LEARN, or usa_learn@ed.gov. a positive 2004, the school had made dra-
matic increases. Fourth-graders—the
top comparable
schools statewide by 20
... way.
’’
options, including webcasts, education by The Achiever contains news and benchmark initially set by the state for measuring points.
visit www.ed.gov and click federal, state For other facts about funding public information about and from public
and private organizations for the
elementary school achievement—scored well above the Gains at this predominantly His-
on “Press Room,” then and local education, download a copy of 10 Facts
reader's information. Inclusion does norm: 75 percent proved mastery of reading, and 87.5 panic and economically disadvantaged
levels. About K–12 Education Funding at
“Audio & Video,” or call not constitute an endorsement by the
percent of math, overall doubling the average from the school were so dramatic that it attracted the attention of
According www.ed.gov, or order it toll-free at U.S. Department of Education of any
toll-free (800) USA-LEARN. products or services offered or views previous year. Chimayo’s scores outranked those of Just for the Kids, a program of the National Center for
to the brochure, (877) 4ED-PUBS with identification
expressed.
number EA 0484B. > continued on page 3
6