AYP & Report Card Communications
General Parent/Guardian/Community Member Letter
Dear Parent, Guardian, or Community Member:
XXX Public Schools is taking a proactive approach this school year as we work to communicate
with parents and the community recent changes to your school building’s Adequate Yearly
Progress (AYP) and report card grade.
Each year, Michigan public school students in grades 3 through 9 are required to take the Michigan
Educational Assessment Program (MEAP), and 11th graders are required to take the Michigan
Merit Exam (MME). The state of Michigan uses the scores from these tests to calculate Adequate
Yearly Progress (AYP), a measure of year-to-year student achievement on the MEAP and the
MME.
Last fall, the Michigan State Board of Education approved new MEAP and MME “cut scores.” Cut
scores separate test takers into various proficiency categories such as advanced, proficient,
partially proficient and not proficient. These new cut scores are higher and “raise the bar” for our
students.
As anticipated, MEAP and MME scores in this inaugural year of the new, higher cut scores were
lower for most students. Consequently, district/building report card grades are also lower. We are
confident this change is temporary, due to ongoing school improvement efforts and student
support.
When looking at AYP and report card grades, it’s important to note that our district uses several
other measures throughout the year to ensure that students are making academic progress.
We maintain high standards for our schools, and our standardized test scores and letter grades are
consistently among the highest in the state. We anticipate this trend will continue even with the
changes in the grading system.
We will be examining our curriculum to respond to the state’s higher achievement expectations. In
addition, our staff will focus our professional development efforts on enhancing our abilities to rise
to the challenge presented to these recent changes.
For more information, contact XXXXX or visit (insert website address).
AYP & Report Card Talking Points
XXX Schools Remain Among Highest Achieving in State
1. Annually, public school students in grades 3 through 9 take the Michigan Educational
Assessment Program (MEAP) test and 11th graders take the Michigan Merit Exam (MME).
The state of Michigan uses the scores from these tests to assign school building report card
grades and calculate Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), a measure of year-to-year student
achievement on the MEAP or the MME.
2. XXX Public Schools is taking a proactive approach this school year as we work to
communicate with parents and the community recent changes to our district and school
buildings’ Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) designations and report card grades.
3. Last fall, the Michigan State Board of Education approved new MEAP and MME “cut
scores.” Cut scores separate test takers into various proficiency categories such as
advanced, proficient, partially proficient and not proficient. The new cut scores are higher
and “raise the bar” for our students.
4. As anticipated, MEAP and MME results in this inaugural year of the new, higher cut scores
were lower for most students. As a result, our district’s/building report card grades are also
lower.
5. Like many school districts across the state, XXX Public Schools’ report card designations
declined. While we anticipated this initial grading drop, we also are confident this change is
temporary, due to ongoing school improvement efforts and student support.
6. While our district/your school received a lower report card letter grade than last year, please
be assured that our staff is still providing excellent academic instruction for our students.
The lower grade simply means that on the day of the test, some students were not yet
proficient on the tested material with the new, higher standards.
7. When looking at AYP and report card grades, it’s important to note that our district uses
several other measures throughout the year to ensure that students are making academic
progress.
8. We maintain high standards for our schools, and our report card letter grades are
consistently among the highest in the state. We anticipate this trend will continue even with
the changes in the grading system.
9. We will be examining our curriculum to respond to the state’s higher achievement
expectations. In addition, our staff will focus our professional development efforts on
enhancing our abilities to rise to the challenge presented to these recent changes.
If you would like additional information about changes to the MEAP, MME or AYP, please contact
your building principal.
Parent/Guardian Letter Regarding Focus School Designation
Dear Parent, Guardian, or Community Member:
XXX Public Schools is taking a proactive approach this school year as we work to communicate
with parents and the community recent changes to your school building’s Adequate Yearly
Progress (AYP) and report card grade.
Each year, Michigan public school students in grades 3 through 9 are required to take the Michigan
Educational Assessment Program (MEAP), and 11th graders are required to take the Michigan
Merit Exam (MME). The state of Michigan uses the scores from these tests to calculate Adequate
Yearly Progress (AYP), a measure of year-to-year student achievement on the MEAP and the
MME.
Last fall, the Michigan State Board of Education approved new MEAP and MME “cut scores.” Cut
scores separate test takers into various proficiency categories such as advanced, proficient,
partially proficient and not proficient. These new cut scores are higher and “raise the bar” for our
students.
As anticipated, MEAP and MME scores in this inaugural year of the new, higher cut scores were
lower for most students. Consequently, district/building report card grades are also lower. We are
confident this change is temporary, due to ongoing school improvement efforts and student
support.
Additionally, your school building has been designated by the state of Michigan as a "focus
school,” which is one of three new designations required to be used by states – like Michigan and
others – that received a waiver from federal No Child Left Behind accountability mandates.
A building receiving a “focus school” designation does not mean a student is in a low-performing
school. In many cases, buildings that are designated as focus schools have also met Adequate
Yearly Progress (AYP).
Focus schools are making progress generally in terms of student achievement, but educators in
focus schools are expected to concentrate school improvement efforts on closing achievement
gaps in order to help all children reach their learning potential.
Focus schools across Michigan will receive increased resources and attention because teachers
and school staff know what goals need to be addressed and how to affect positive changes in the
classroom for all students.
When looking at AYP and report card grades, it’s important to note that our district uses several
other measures throughout the year to ensure that students are making academic progress.
We maintain high standards for our schools, and our standardized test scores and letter grades are
consistently among the highest in the state. We anticipate this trend will continue even with the
changes in the grading system.
We will be examining our curriculum to respond to the state’s higher achievement expectations. In
addition, our staff will focus our professional development efforts on enhancing our abilities to rise
to the challenge presented to these recent changes.
For more information, contact XXXXX or visit (insert website address).
AYP & Report Card Talking Points
XXX Schools Remain Among Highest Achieving in State
1. Annually, public school students in grades 3 through 9 take the Michigan Educational
Assessment Program (MEAP) test and 11th graders take the Michigan Merit Exam (MME).
The state of Michigan uses the scores from these tests to assign school building report card
grades and calculate Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), a measure of year-to-year student
achievement on the MEAP or the MME.
2. XXX Public Schools is taking a proactive approach this school year as we work to
communicate with parents and the community recent changes to our district and school
buildings’ Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) designations and report card grades.
3. Last fall, the Michigan State Board of Education approved new MEAP and MME “cut
scores.” Cut scores separate test takers into various proficiency categories such as
advanced, proficient, partially proficient and not proficient. The new cut scores are higher
and “raise the bar” for our students.
4. As anticipated, MEAP and MME results in this inaugural year of the new, higher cut scores
were lower for most students. As a result, our district’s/building report card grades are also
lower.
5. Like many school districts across the state, XXX Public Schools’ report card designations
declined. While we anticipated this initial grading drop, we also are confident this change is
temporary, due to ongoing school improvement efforts and student support.
6. While our district/your school received a lower report card letter grade than last year, please
be assured that our staff is still providing excellent academic instruction for our students.
The lower grade simply means that on the day of the test, some students were not yet
proficient on the tested material with the new, higher standards.
7. If your school building was designated by the state of Michigan as a "focus" school, which is
one of three new designations required to be used by states – like Michigan and others –
that received a waiver from federal No Child Left Behind accountability mandates, there are
a few additional things you need to know.
a. A building receiving a “focus school” designation does not mean a student is in a
low-performing school. In many cases, buildings that are designated as focus
schools have also met Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).
b. Focus schools are making progress generally in terms of student achievement, but
educators in focus schools are expected to concentrate school improvement efforts
on closing achievement gaps in order to help all children reach their learning
potential.
c. Many focus schools across Michigan will receive increased resources and attention
because teachers and school staff know what goals need to be addressed and how
to affect positive changes in the classroom for all students.
8. When looking at AYP and report card grades, it’s important to note that our district uses
several other measures throughout the year to ensure that students are making academic
progress.
9. We maintain high standards for our schools, and our report card letter grades are
consistently among the highest in the state. We anticipate this trend will continue even with
the changes in the grading system.
10. We will be examining our curriculum to respond to the state’s higher achievement
expectations. In addition, our staff will focus our professional development efforts on
enhancing our abilities to rise to the challenge presented to these recent changes.
If you would like additional information about changes to the MEAP, MME or AYP, please contact
your building principal.