Academic Performance Index

By Doug Park

Natomas schools did extremely well on the API. The School Board has implemented many programs to improve student performance.

How well did the Natomas Unified School District do on the Academic Performance Index?

On October 4, 2000, California Superintendent of Public Instruction, Delaine Easton, came to Bannon Creek Elementary School in Natomas to announce the results of the Academic Performance Index (API).

ALL schools in Natomas exceeded the state's target! Of the five schools receiving an API in Natomas, four of the schools qualify for monetary awards!

In fact, Natomas is the ONLY K - 12 district in Sacramento County to have ALL schools exceed the target levels and the ONLY K - 12 district with ALL schools above 600. Natomas schools outperformed their targets by 5 to 87 points!

The District, including the Board, administrators, teachers, staff and students and parents worked very hard over the past two years to improve student performance.

In this effort, the District has implemented the following:

Assessment and Accountability

There has been a two year emphasis to help meet the District's goal of all students meeting grade level standards.

• establishment of grade level standards for performance,
• assessment tools were developed,
• staff training was conducted in the use of multiple assessments,
• SAT 9 and multiple assessment data was collected and analyzed,
• detailed analysis of the data was developed to identify problem areas,
• staff were trained on how to use the SAT 9 data with parents,
• modified curriculum, assessments and report cards to standards.

This is a nationally recognized program that emphasizes phonics and daily reading exercises. Natomas has fully implemented Open Court and has achieved great success with this program. The District implemented the Open Court program two years ago.

• ongoing training for teachers in Open Court instructional methodology, knowledge and skills,
• teacher support is provided by a special reading coordinator, two coaches, and two consultants, six days a week,
• training for principals on how to supervise the implementation of Open Court,
• parent training about the program and how to help children at home.

Students who do not speak or write English as their primary language require additional help in order to be prepared for classes and taking the SAT 9 test. Natomas has implemented several programs to address this need:

• over thirty teachers certified last year to teach English Language learners,
• all new teachers required to hold or get additional certification,
• secondary schools increased the number of special, "sheltered" courses,
• at least one ELL trained teacher is assigned to each grade level,
• implemented a District English Language Learner Advisory Committee,
• implemented site advisory committees at Jefferson, Leroy Greene Middle School and Natomas High School.

• piloting and adoption of Saxon Mathematics Program, a curriculum that meets state standards for math,
• established a Mathematics Resource Teacher who worked with third grade students, teachers and parents last year.

• Teachers in grades 4-6 and language arts and social science teachers at the middle school were trained in this program.

• High School students are tutoring elementary students as part of a class.

This is an eighteen month pilot program with the Sacramento County Office of Education to move students that are reading below the 50th percentile to grade level. This program works to:

• place students in the AVID after the pilot program,
• build academic and personal confidence in reading, writing, and problem solving,
• creates strong parent, school and student relationships.

Students in the middle school (grades 6, 7, and 8) are being targeted early for additional support in an effort to improve academic performance and increase the number of students who graduate from high school. This program:

• Teaches students study skills, basic skills and social skills,
• Increases parental involvement through weekly progress reports, parent visits to the school to observe classes, and
• Provides a supportive environment with specialized curriculum, instruction, guidance, counseling, and tutorial assistance for retained or at risk students.

This is a collaborative program with the Sacramento County Office of Education, the University of Oregon, and the Northern California Reading Demonstration Center. This program provides continued and sustained training for all teachers for 6th grade, 7-8 core teachers, 9th grade English teachers and special education teachers.

Student Academic Partnership Program

This program is recognized as an exemplary intervention model and involves 30 college tutors working with 300 students. In the first year of the program, students demonstrated two years of growth.

All of these programs are long term commitments. As a Board Member, I am determined to continuously work to improve the schools in Natomas. Much more needs to be done if we are to have all schools continue to improve and exceed the 800 level on the Academic Performance Index.