In recent news you may have heard about the Georgia Department of Education's approved waiver from the US Department of Education for regulations established under No Child Left Behind (NCLB). The waiver included a new system for measuring student achievement called the CCRPI (College and Career Ready Performance Index).

The waiver included identification of only Title I schools in the state instead of all schools as was practiced under NCLB. Title I schools are schools that receive federal funds based on the number of economically disadvantaged students. Three levels of identification were designated in the waiver: Reward, Focus, and Priority Schools. Tuesday the GA Department of Education released the names of Title I schools designated as Focus Schools. William Hubbard Middle School, which has an economically disadvantaged student population of over 70%, was on the list.

Focus Schools are determined based on the graduation rate falling below 60% over 2 years and not being identified as a Priority School or the largest within-school gaps between the highest achieving and lowest achieving subgroups on all parts of the state mandated test.

This announcement comes on the heels of WHMS being recognized as a Title I School of Distinction in 2010-2011 under NCLB. The reason for inclusion on the lists is the fact that the calculations to determine AYP under NCLB are different from those found in the new CCRPI measurement system. "No matter the measurement tool, we will all be working to close the achievement gap in all content areas for all subgroups at William Hubbard Middle School as well as other schools in the district," said Dr. Mike Hickman, Assistant Superintendent for Personnel and Middle & High Education.  

As we move forward in this process, school and system leaders will begin working with Middle Georgia RESA to develop strategies to help lower the achievement gaps between all subgroups at WHMS. 

Closing achievement gaps among subgroups is a system area of focus for all schools within the district.  In the report written by the accreditation team from Advance Ed, formally known as Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), a year and half ago, closing acheivement gaps between subgroups is an area for MCS will be required to show improvement in before the next accreditation vist in three and a half years.

Respectfully submitted,

Anthony D. Pack

MCS Superintendent