MSDE Education Bulletin July 31, 2009

July 31, 2009 | MSDE Home | Newsroom | MDReportcard.org | School Improvement |

A few words SCHOOL from State Superintendent ASSESSMENT RESULTS POST of Schools NEW GAINS Nancy S. Grasmick Continued improvement in reading and mathematics scores was recorded on the Maryland School Assessment With the opening of school just one month away, (MSA) for 2009, building on the steady progress made representatives of Maryland school systems got together over the past six years, according to data released last this week in Annapolis with state officials to plan for a week before the State Board. possible H1N1 flu outbreak. It was an important meeting and showed the strong, open lines of communication that The rise in test scores have developed between education and health officials. contributed to 19 The novel H1N1 virus is highly infectious, and is of schools leaving the particular concern to educators. The virus is very federally mandated contagious among young children. school improvement

For that reason, MSDE this past spring signed a process. Seven of Memorandum of Understanding with the Maryland those schools are Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH). In located in the event of a public health emergency, the MOU states Baltimore City Board of School City, four in that the Secretary of DHMH may exercise his authority to Commissioners President Neil Duke, left, Montgomery County, shakes hands with U.S. Education close both public and nonpublic schools in consultation three in Prince Secretary Arne Duncan as State with my office and the Maryland Emergency George’s County, two Superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick, Management Administration. in Baltimore County, Governor Martin O’Malley, and Baltimore The virus was first reported in Mexico in March and it had City Schools CEO Andres Alonso look on. and one each in made its way to Maryland by the end of April. There Secretary Duncan was in Baltimore last Allegany, Howard, remain sporadic reports of new cases in the State, and week to celebrate the success of the city and Kent counties. the possibility of a major outbreak during the 2009-2010 school system on the recent MSA test. school year is very real. The 2009 assessment

score data in Maryland also show a continued closing of What is gratifying is the open lines of communication that have been developed between health and education the achievement gaps that have plagued schools nationwide. Scores are being expressed as the http://msde.state.md.us/MSDEBulletins/2009/july_31/ (1 of 5)1/19/2012 12:43:40 PM MSDE Education Bulletin July 31, 2009

officials throughout the State. Our summit this week percentage of students in each system who scored at or involved teams of educational administrators and health above the proficiency levels set when the exams professionals from each local system. Committees will launched in 2003. continue to work over the next few months to develop plans to respond to any flu situation. The health and Composite MSA reading proficiency at the elementary safety of our public school students and staff is always our number one concern. grades has risen more than 25 percentage points since 2003, and composite elementary mathematics

* * * proficiency has increased by 25 points as well. Composite middle school reading proficiency has For the 9th straight year, MSDE this week welcomed increased 22 percentage points since 2003, while more than 135 new and experience school leaders to the composite middle school math proficiency has risen 32 Maryland Principals Academy. points.

The Principals Academy is an unique state effort to build “I am so proud of our students, and want to extend a leadership capacity designed to lead to improved student special thanks to families in every corner of our State achievement. MSDE’s Academy program, the State’s signature leadership development program for principals, who continue to play such an important role in student fosters collaboration and allows participants to grow and achievement,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. learn on the job. This week’s two-day residential program “Maryland is home to the best public schools in is followed by two follow-up sessions during the school America, not just because Education Week said so, but year. because over the last five years, we’ve seen strong improvement throughout schools across the state and I’ve said many times that I’ve never seen a good school across demographic lines. Working together, we’ve without a good principal. We believe that each year the Academy program is bringing more outstanding made tremendous progress for our top-ranked public principals to Maryland schools. school system, even during historically difficult economic times.”

State Superintendent of Schools Nancy S. Grasmick said Calendar the steady progress made is the result of continuous effort put forth by educators throughout the State. August 10 – 14 – Maryland Association of Counties Meeting (Ocean City) “The rising targets set forth in federal law make it more difficult each year for our schools to meet the August 19 – First School System Opens for the Fall goals, and many of our schools are reaching the 90 (Washington County) percent proficiency levels that make it difficult for rapid gains,” she noted. “But hard work in the August 25 – State Board Meeting classroom continues to prevail and our students are the beneficiaries of improved instruction.”

Not only have 19 schools exited the rigorous school In the News improvement process, but that hard work has resulted

in fewer Maryland schools being cited as “in Strong Gains in Maryland Assessments improvement” overall, the federal designation for WJZ-TV, Baltimore having missed Adequate Yearly Progress targets for two http://msde.state.md.us/MSDEBulletins/2009/july_31/ (2 of 5)1/19/2012 12:43:40 PM MSDE Education Bulletin July 31, 2009

years running. The number of Maryland schools in MSA Test Scores Show Improvement improvement fell from 170 in 2008 to 158 this year. WBAL-TV, Baltimore

Fall Swine Flu Preparations Underway The percentage of students statewide scoring at the Annapolis Capital proficient or advanced levels for reading in Grade 3, for example, rose from 58.1 percent in 2003 to 84.9 Maryland School, Health Leaders Hold Summit percent this year. The percentage of students scoring NewsChannel 8, Washington, DC in the proficient range for Grade 5 mathematics rose from 55 percent five years ago in 2003 to 81.2 percent this year.

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here Many local school systems charted improvements, to view on the web. including Baltimore City, whose strengthening MSA scores led the system to leave the state’s “corrective Click here for a PDF version of the MSDE July 31, 2009 action” designation. A celebration of the system’s Education Bulletin. performance took place last year, attracting U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Governor Martin If you would prefer not to receive future Newsletters from O’Malley, Mayor Sheila Dixon, Dr. Grasmick, and scores us, simply click here, and insert in the subject line, of other dignitaries to Abbottston Elementary. Unsubscribe.

“If it can happen in this school, why can’t it happen at

every school in the city, at every school in the state, and at every school in the country?” Secretary Duncan asked.

Schools that left the school improvement process this year are: Braddock Middle in Allegany County, Arbutus Middle in Baltimore County, Woodlawn Middle in Baltimore County, Murray Hill Middle in Howard County, Chestertown Middle in Kent County, Briggs Chaney Middle in Montgomery County, Lakelands Park Middle in Montgomery County, Newport Mill Middle in Montgomery County, Silver Spring International Middle in Montgomery County, Columbia Park Elementary in Prince George’s County, Walker Mill Middle in Prince George’s County, William W. Hall Elementary in Prince George’s County, Alexander Hamilton Elementary in Baltimore City, Eutaw-Marshburn Elementary in Baltimore City, Fort Worthington Elementary in Baltimore City, Guilford Elementary/Middle in Baltimore City, Johnston Square Elementary in Baltimore City, Morrell Park Elementary/Middle in

http://msde.state.md.us/MSDEBulletins/2009/july_31/ (3 of 5)1/19/2012 12:43:40 PM MSDE Education Bulletin July 31, 2009 Baltimore City, and Sinclair Lane Elementary in Baltimore City.

Scheduled for release later this year are the 2009 MSA science scores at the elementary and middle school level, High School Assessment scores, graduation rates, and attendance figures. High school and system-wide AYP information will be available at that time as well.

Statewide, system, and local school MSA data are available on the Maryland State Department of Education’s updated report card Web site, www. mdreportcard.org.

DeGRAFFENREIDT RE- ELECTED STATE BOARD PRESIDENT; DUKES ELECTED VICE PRESIDENT

The Maryland State Board of Education last week re- elected James H. DeGraffenreidt, Jr., as its president, while Dr. Charlene Dukes was elected vice president.

DeGraffenreidt has served as State Board president for the past year. He is Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of WGL Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Washington Gas. DeGraffenreidt also serves as Chairman and CEO of Washington Gas, the natural gas utility serving more than 1 million customers in the Washington metropolitan area and surrounding region. He serves on the boards of Harbor Bankshares Corporation, Federal City Council, , the , the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, and the DC College Success Foundation. He received the degrees of Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration from Columbia University in 1978 and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Yale College in 1974.

Dr. Dukes is president of Prince George’s Community College and has 26 years of progressive leadership experiences and administrative responsibility in higher http://msde.state.md.us/MSDEBulletins/2009/july_31/ (4 of 5)1/19/2012 12:43:40 PM MSDE Education Bulletin July 31, 2009

education. From 2002 through 2006, she served on the Prince George’s County Board of Education and chaired various committees. In addition, she holds membership in a variety of professional organizations, and has participated in the Executive Leadership Institute sponsored by the League for Innovation. Dr. Dukes holds a bachelor of science degree in secondary education with an English concentration from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and a Master’s and Doctorate in Administration and Policy Studies at the University of Pittsburgh.

The Maryland State Board of Education is a 12-member body appointed by the Governor. Members serve a maximum of two four-year terms. A student member serves a one-year term.

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