'Positive Trends' in Achievement in Valley View: Administrators

Valley View administrators on Monday night presented data to the board showing student achievement trends.

Presenters included Superintendent James Mitchem and Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services Rachel Kinder.

“We do see positive trends in the data,” said Kinder.

According to the data, Valley View K-8 students have exceeded the national average for typical growth in reading and math for the second year in a row.

Also for the second year, all subgroups — including special education students and English language learners — are showing growth above the national average.

In both reading and math, students in grades K-8 also outperformed their projected growth for the second year in a row as well.

“It’s a strong indication of effective instructional practices taking hold,” Kinder said. Referring to efforts to increase rigor in Valley View over the last several years, she added, “Our students are rising to that occasion.”

Administrators presented an analysis of data on the MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) text, an internal assessment instructed to grades K-8 in 2011 and expanded to grades 9-10 in 2012, as well as ISAT and PSAE scores.

The data showed improvement in both math and reading on the ISAT, administered to grades 3-8. Districtwide, scores improved 1 percent in reading since 2012 and 6 percent in math over the same time period.

“We know that there are areas where we absolutely have to get better” Kinder said. “But overall the trends across the board K-8 are outperforming expected growth.”

On the PSAE, given to 11th graders, reading scores are up 6 percent over the last three years, while math scores are up 1 percent.

In addition to positive trends, administrators pointed areas that need continued focus, such as integration of a more rigorous Common Core resource into middle school and high school math courses and implementation of resources to better support math interventions.

Other areas of focus at the elementary school level include adding rigorous tasks that embed technology, are performance based and require more in-depth reasoning of grade-level concepts.

The district will also continue to focus on professional development for teachers, Kinder said.

Kinder said emphasis is being placed on increasing the number of students who are on track for college and career readiness. That includes interventions for kids who are not hitting benchmarks at all grade levels, she said.

Teachers asked for ‘infinite effort’

During a new teacher orientation on Monday, Mitchem challenged teachers to launch an “infinite effort” to boost growth and achievement.

“If we don’t work as a team, we won’t get it done,” Mitchem said. “Challenge yourself to ask whether what you are doing supports Valley View’s beliefs. If you don’t believe it’s going to happen, it won’t.”

School board vice president Rick Gougis also challenged teachers during the orientation.

“Our belief system is our students can achieve like students in the highest performing school districts,” Gougis said “… We truly believe all of our kids can learn and achieve at the same level that you have achieved.”

Click to watch video of Mitchem speaking to new teachers at Monday’s orientation