This ‘reward’ followed the work

MLES named a Reward School by the MDE

 

 

 

mles-reward-school
MLES PRINCIPAL KARL Wassman is eager to spring the surprise to his staff – the school has been named a Reward School by the Minnesota Department of Education. With “thanks” from Wassman – it was ice cream treats all around.

 

 

Mountain Lake Public Elementary School (MLES) Principal Karl Wassman held onto a huge secret all day on Friday, September 23. But, when the last student had left the building, headed home for the weekend – he gathered the entire MLES staff in the elementary library to let them all in on it.

That secret was – success – student and staff success!

Mountain Lake Public Elementary School (MLES) has earned recognition as a Reward School from the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) on Minnesota’s Multiple Measurement Rating (MMR) system for scoring among the top 15% of Title I schools in the state this year. MMR scores for all public schools in the state were released by the Minnesota Department of Education Sept. 1 in what will be the last year the measure is used due to changes in federal law.

This designation reflects the gains MLES has demonstrated in exceptional student outcomes and success in closing achievement gaps. Reward Schools must have 95% of Title students taking the MCA testing; MLES rates were 97%-98% of students.

The MMR uses multiple measures of student achievement based on results on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs) in reading and mathematics that students take each spring. The MMR score is represented as a percentage calculated using the combined points a school earns in the following three categories for the elementary (up to 25 points each) –

+ Proficiency of the school’s students in making adequate yearly progress targets in math and reading.

+ Growth in achievement of the school’s students (movement from previous years).

+ Achievement gap reduction between subgroups of students at the school.

Schools earn points for the achievement of their students as a whole and within each of eight subgroups, including White, Black, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic, American Indian, students who receive special education services, students who receive English Language (EL) services and students who are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals.

Schools that have higher concentrations of poverty, and receive federal Title I funding, may receive an MMR designation. This year, MDE recognized only Reward Schools, which represent the top 15% of Title I schools in the state. Not all Title I schools receive an MMR designation, nor do any schools that do not receive Title I funding.

 

MMR is a 0-to-1oo% for all schools in the state and includes data on proficiency, growth and achievement gap reduction. The MMR was developed as Minnesota’s version of No Child Left Behind (now the Every Student Succeeds Act). For MLES, the 2016 rating was 69.29%. (MMR scores for all Minnesota public schools are available on the MDE website at www.education.state.mn.us/. Go to the Data Center tab on the top row, select Minnesota Report Card, then select School Performance and enter the school name.)

Another measure used to receive the designation is the Focus Rating (FR), also a 0-to-100% for all schools in the state and includes data on proficiency and growth for only students of color, special education students, students in poverty and English learners. At MLES, the 2016 FR was 75.98%.

This will be the last year for the MMR system, as the state transitions from requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act to a new system that will align with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) approved by the United States Congress last December. MDE staff is reaching out to educators, parents, students and others to gather input on what should be included in the state’s new accountability system under ESSA beginning in 2017.

Becoming a Reward School is a move up the rungs of the MDE ladder for MLES, stepping up to this current ranking from that of a Celebration-Eligible School.

This achievement, according to Principal Wassman, “Demonstrates that if the effort is given, you will do okay. The goal now is sustained success.”

 

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