Bartlesville Public School District

continues to improve upon API scores

(Published Sunday, Oct. 28, 2006 in Examiner-Enterprise)

The Oklahoma Department of Education recently released the preliminary Academic Performance Index, or API scores for all Oklahoma school districts. The API is a numeric index, or score, ranging from 0 to 1500. This number has been tabulated in an effort to offer patrons a numeric value that summarizes a school district's accomplishments in specific areas on both the elementary and secondary levels. Several indicators are utilized to create this index; these different facets include:

•  test scores from the annual state-mandated tests, which, incidentally, comprise 60 percent of the API index

•  average attendance rates for students in the district

Each of these areas is assigned a numeric value that is then tabulated to create a district score.

Bartlesville Public Schools has continued to improve its API scores every year since the inception of the statewide academic accountability program. The district score improved 64 points last year alone, to 1327 of the 1500 points possible (please see accompanying graph). Additionally, as illustrated in the chart below, since its inception in 2002, Bartlesville Public Schools has scored significantly higher on the API scores than the state average.

History of API Scores

* baseline year

** state average score to be released November 30, 2006

 According to the Oklahoma State Department of Education, the state average API score will be made public on at the end of November.

“We are pleased to report Bartlesville Public Schools has continued to improve its Academic Performance Index score every year,” said Dr. Gary W. Quinn, Superintendent of Bartlesville Public Schools. “Typically our district has scored well above the state average. In addition, with a 64 point increase this year, we reached the performance benchmark required by the state.”

The Oklahoma State Department of Education developed the API as part of the state's single accountability system required by federal legislation. The accountability requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) calls for an information management system that analyzes different formats of data for statistical reporting purposes. The NCLB act requires schools to meet Adequate Yearly Progress targets in core curriculum in both the percentage of students tested and in individual subgroups of students. These subgroups are divided into separate categories based on gender, ethnicity, socio-economics, English Language Learners, migrant and special education students. According to NCLB, all students and each sub-group of students are required to make Adequate Yearly Progress on state testing.

“The API score offers a snapshot of our district's progress in the three key areas of state testing, attendance and graduation rates.” said Dr. Quinn. “In turn, we are able to evaluate the adequate yearly progress for each individual site and to further evaluate the efforts of each sub-group of our students to determine new site goals and focus curriculum to ensure all students obtain subject mastery.”

It's important to note there have been significant changes in the API index since its inception five years ago. First, the targeted benchmark performance goal required for districts was raised approximately 20% in 2004, and will be raised again next year, in 2007. In addition, Oklahoma has expanded state testing; more grade levels and more subject areas are being tested now than ever before. Since 2002, fourth, sixth and seventh grades state-mandated tests have been added to the spring testing schedule, as well as additional subject areas such as Geography , U.S. History and writing.

On the secondary level, students are required to take End-of-Instruction (EOI) exams. In the next few years, these exams will be expanded from the four currently required—Algebra I, English II, Biology I, and History—to include three other exams, English III, Algebra II and Geometry exams. Graduation requirements have also been added via the End-of-Instruction testing as Oklahoma students of the class of 2012 will be required to pass four of these seven EOI exams, additionally, passing Algebra I and English II will be mandatory requirements for graduation.

“Obviously as the bar continues to be raised higher, we must be ever diligent in improving our teaching practices to help our students to reach the new requirements,” said Dr. Quinn. “It is a challenge to improve scores when you reach the 90 th percentile and beyond, however we are committed to doing just that. It is our goal to help all students achieve their very best and make progress every year.”