The goal is daunting - 100 percent of students being proficient in reading and math by 2014. Yet it's one the Brooklyn Center School District is facing head on with its recent completion of an Adequate Yearly Progress plan.

The district drafted the plan, which addresses how it plans to meet AYP, after not meeting the federal standards under No Child Left Behind earlier this year. It was approved by the School Board at its Monday, Nov. 10, meeting.

In a letter to parents, Superintendent Keith Lester said No Child Left Behind requires all schools in the nation to make AYP toward achieving the goal of 100 percent proficiency by 2014.

Currently, Brooklyn Center is designated as a district in need of improvement due to not making AYP in 2007-08.

The AYP plan, which will be submitted to the state, is meant to help students meet or exceed state standards, include addressing such items as supplemental math and reading support, alignment of reading and math instruction to state standards, expanding free after school tutoring programs and allocating funds for further staff development.

"The leadership team did a lot of good work on the plan, which is a working document," Lester said. "It is a good plan."

In determining AYP, the state reviews four specific criteria, including the academic achievement results in reading/language arts and mathematics, student participation rates in these assessments, high school graduation rates and elementary attendance rates, Lester said. Under No Child Left Behind legislation, Earle Brown Elementary is in a stage 1.2 - needs improvement status - and Brooklyn Center Junior/Senior High School is in stage 3.2 - corrective status. As a whole, the district is also in a stage 3.2.

Due to the Title 1 status of Earle Brown Elementary, a specific AYP plan for that school was also approved by the School Board to be submitted to the state. It was the second year the district's only elementary school did not meet AYP. Hispanic, black, limited English proficiency, special education and students receiving free and reduced priced lunch did not make the AYP target in both math and reading.

While Principal Randy Koch indicated the AYP plan for Earle Brown Elementary IB World School is "much more complicated", he summarized the following highlights:

Staff will revisit and solidify the standards that all students in kindergarten through sixth grade should meet at the end of each school year.

Staff will then create common benchmark tests at each grade that align to these standards to verify that the student has a proficient understanding of what is being asked of them.

Common scientifically based strategies will then be used in both reading and mathematics in grades kindergarten through sixth during instruction to prepare the students to meet the standards and pass the bench mark assessments.

After instruction has taken place, students will be given the benchmark assessments throughout the year to see if they are meeting the standards of that grade level.

Students who do not pass the benchmark assessments will receive additional help before or after school or in smaller settings during the school day.

Students who do not pass these benchmark assessments will be monitored on a bi-monthly basis.

Teachers will be given additional training and time to reflect on and use data analysis techniques and scientifically based strategies.

Brooklyn Center School District was one of almost half of those statewide that did not make AYP when results were released in August. In 2008, 937 out of 1,191 schools statewide did not make AYP - up from 727 schools in 2007.

After testing results were released earlier this year, Lester said it was difficult to meet state targets because of the "bar being raised," scoring not tracking individual growth, budget cuts eliminating teaching positions resulting in larger class sizes and other factors.

In other matters, the board:

Heard a presentation regarding the Beacons program at Earle Brown Elementary.

Approved the 2008-10 Bus Driver Agreement, Education Assistants Agreements and the Building Level Clerical Agreement with a 3 percent increase.

Comment on this story at our website, www.mnsun.com.

After instruction has taken place, students will be given the benchmark assessments throughout the year to see if they are meeting the standards of that grade level.

Students who do not pass the benchmark assessments will receive additional help before or after school or in smaller settings during the school day.

Students who do not pass these benchmark assessments will be monitored on a bi-monthly basis.

Teachers will be given additional training and time to reflect on and use data analysis techniques and scientifically based strategies.

Brooklyn Center School District was one of almost half of those statewide that did not make AYP when results were released in August. In 2008, 937 out of 1,191 schools statewide did not make AYP - up from 727 schools in 2007.

After testing results were released earlier this year, Lester said it was difficult to meet state targets because of the "bar being raised," scoring not tracking individual growth, budget cuts eliminating teaching positions resulting in larger class sizes and other factors.

In other matters, the board:

Heard a presentation regarding the Beacons program at Earle Brown Elementary.

Approved the 2008-10 Bus Driver Agreement, Education Assistants Agreements and the Building Level Clerical Agreement with a 3 percent increase.

Comment on this story at our website, www.mnsun.com.