Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Academic Performance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board highlights district's statewide ‘‘beating the odds'’ rankings and discusses WASDA proposals
Summary
Board Member Rick presented data showing University Place ranks among the state's top districts for outperforming poverty-predicted proficiency, and the board discussed legislative-position proposal processes for the WASDA conference.
Board Member Rick presented a data analysis during the May 18 meeting comparing district poverty indicators (free/reduced-price lunch and ELL shares) to proficiency in math and English language arts. Rick said the scatterplots identify districts that "beat the odds," and he highlighted University Place's placement on those lists.
"University Place is 13th among all those school districts in the state in proficiency in math, but they're second of all those districts in beating the odds," Rick said, and he added the district ranks highly in English language arts measures as well. Rick told colleagues he hopes to develop a report by November that interviews high-performing districts about practices that contribute to outperforming expectations.
The board also reviewed the Washington State School Directors Association (WASDA) legislative proposal process and the timeline for submitting positions. Members noted confusion at the state level between permanent position statements and action-oriented legislative positions and asked staff to provide more education and clearer guidance ahead of the WASDA general assembly in September.
Rick and other members encouraged compiling successful district practices to share with peers at WASDA and to inform local improvement efforts. The data presentation was framed as a possible outreach and peer-learning opportunity for the district and for other boards across the state.
Next steps: staff and board members will work to prepare a report and draft potential WASDA proposals for submission by the end-of-May deadlines noted in the meeting.
