Board to get an update on testing

Marisa O’Neil

Principals today will begin presenting the results from last year’s

standardized tests, along with their plans for improving performances

this year, to the Board of Trustees.

It will be the first time principals have met with Newport-Mesa

Unified School District board with what they are calling the “Test

Result Response Plans,” said Laura Boss, coordinator of

administrative services for the district.

“The purpose of the meeting is to present information, touch base

and talk about where we need to go from here in alignment with the

district’s strategic plan and the established 2003 to 2004 goals and

priorities,” she said.

The reports, to be presented at board study sessions today and

Tuesday, Oct. 14, will cover Adequate Yearly Progress and Academic

Performance Index data, which both quantify standardized test results

and school performance as part of the federal No Child Left Behind

Act and Public Schools Accountability Act.

They include breakdowns of students’ performances by gender,

ethnic background and “socio-economically disadvantaged” students.

California Elementary’s report, for instance, finds that “the

number of males at the proficient and advanced levels in language

arts is significantly lower than the amount of females.”

Its goals for the coming year include focusing the language arts

program on the needs of English language learners, boys and Latinos.

Today’s study session will take place from 12:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.

in the board room at the District Education Center, at 2985-A Bear

St. in Costa Mesa.

For a list of schools presenting today, go to

https://www.nmusd.k12.ca.us/depts/boe/am/am_files/

100703_present_schedule.pdf.

* MARISA O’NEIL covers education and may be reached at (949)

574-4268 or by e-mail at marisa.oneil@latimes.com.