Dear Parents/Guardians and Patrons,

The results of the 2008-09 school year report card indicated that the Gordon-Rushville Middle School did not meet the required adequate yearly progress.  This letter is to provide you with notice that once a school has been identified as such, the school is required to provide notice to parents of the information included in this letter.  While the Gordon-Rushville Middle School made the required levels for adequate yearly progress (AYP) in the 2009-10 school year, two years of successful performance are necessary to be removed from underperforming in the AYP requirements.  Test results from 2010-11 did not meet AYP requirements and for that reason, the Gordon-Rushville Middle School is listed as entering year three of not meeting AYP progress.

We have received notice that the middle school entered into year three of Title I Needs Improvement for the 2011-12 school year for failure to have 70% of American Indian/Alaska Native students demonstrating proficiency in reading performance.   The source for this evaluation was the NeSA-R Reading Test which is the assessment used to determine AYP.

Students performed better in the areas of writing and math in the middle school with all student groupings meeting the required proficiency rating in math and in writing. 

The Gordon-Rushville School District desires to teach all students the necessary skills to allow them to find success in their chosen fields after school.  The district and staff will continue to gather data on student performance with the goal of using the data to better prepare our students for life beyond school and to improve student learning in school.  The examination of the data has led the district to adopt a research based reading curriculum, to adopt a new comprehensive math program, and to adjust staff to better fill the needs of the students this past year.  The Gordon-Rushville Middle School will encourage improvement efforts by assisting in the delivery of instruction with rigor and relevance for the students.

Specific programs that will be continued include:

·       Assessment Literacy training (for staff),

·       Data Walks (for administrators and staff),

·       Differentiated Instruction (for staff),

·       Curriculum Alignment (for staff and administrators),

·       Educational Goal Setting (for students),

·       trainings  and materials to ensure reading comprehension (all subjects areas for students and teachers),

·       AIMS web (to benchmark and monitor student progress),

·       Corrective Reading interventions (for students),

·       Basic Literacy classes (for students),

·       Lexile Scores (to determine individual student instructional needs),

·       Title I School Wide (to assist in student learning),

·       Tutoring (student assistance after school).

Additional programs of assistance are being considered that include: 

·       Summer School, district continuity in curriculum and instruction,

·       additional tutoring for individuals and small groups, and

·       student grouping to allow for instruction remediation and advancement. 

We want all our students to succeed and ask that you be involved by offering your suggestions to the above lists and by working with your children, and us, to improve student learning and achievement.

Due to the fact that Gordon-Rushville Public Schools are a School Wide Title I school, there are requirements placed on the school for not making adequate yearly progress for two years.  The Gordon-Rushville Middle School is required to provide Supplemental Educational Services (SES) to eligible students.   Attached is a list of SES providers that have been approved by the State Department of Education that could provide tutoring services for your child.  Parents and/or students wishing to participate in SES are asked to contact the middle school office at (308) 327-2491 by January 31, 2012, to enroll.  The Gordon-Rushville Middle School will be offering additional tutoring and instruction and students may be requested/required to participate in such additional tutoring. 

Additionally, the district is required to allow students to attend other schools in the district offering the middle school curriculum and to provide or pay transportation costs associated with this attendance.  The district has a single middle school for students in grades 6-8 located at Rushville and provides transportation between Gordon and Rushville.  Other schools that have middle school curriculum in the district are: Golden Spade, Extension, Lakeside, and Merriman.  In the event that parents/guardians should determine that they wish for their child to attend one of these schools, contact the Gordon-Rushville Middle School at (308) 327-2491 for application and further details. 

helping student achievement.  We believe that working in cooperation with you will bring the desired outcome of preparing our students for their growth and future success.

Sincerely,

Gordon-Rushville Public Schools