SCHOOLS MOSTLY EXCELLING HANDFUL IN SCV FAIL TO MEET NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND GOALS.

Byline: Carol Rock Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Despite impressive gains in test scores on the state level, a handful of Santa Clarita Valley schools failed to make the Adequate Yearly Progress required by federal No Child Left Behind legislation.

The majority of schools in the Hart High School district and the Newhall, Saugus, Sulphur Springs and Castaic (K-8) elementary districts showed significant improvement in Academic Performance Index scores, which are measured using the results of the state's Standardized Testing and Reporting Program (STAR.).

The goal of each school is to reach 800 out of 1,000 possible points; the Castaic Union School District led the area in improvement, bringing scores up 30 points to 798; the Sulphur Springs School District saw an 18-point increase to 805; the Newhall School District was up 16 points to 850; the William S. Hart Union High School District had a 12-point rise to 764; and the Saugus Union School District was up 12 to 856.

Statewide, growth averaged 20 points for an average score of 709.

Federal benchmarks doubled in both English-language arts and mathematics categories, causing subgroups that showed progress in other areas to fail in AYP assessments, sending a mixed message to school administrators and parents.

In 2004, 13.6 percent of students had to be proficient in English language arts; those standards increased to 24.4 this year. In mathematics, the 2004 standard was 13.6 and increased to 26.5 this year.

In reports released by the California Department of Education on Wednesday, seven local schools failed AYP assessments for a variety of reasons. Valencia High School, which gained 41 points in API scores, failed AYP solely because five to 10 students did not complete testing.

``We will be appealing this assessment with the state,'' said Vicki Engbrecht, Hart's director of curriculum. ``Because AYP is an all-or-nothing system, failing in any category adds a level of stress to both teachers and school leadership.''

Ninety of 101 special-education students took the test at Valencia High, which has the largest percentage of these students in the valley.

Placerita Junior High showed a 16-point growth in API, but students learning English failed to make English-language and mathematic targets. Several of the students in the English-language learner group were recently reclassified as English proficient and erroneously labeled as initially fluent. Socioeconomically disadvantaged students also came up short in mathematics.

Overall, the Hart district scored well above federal AYP standards with 61.5 percent of students scoring proficient or above in English-language arts compared with 42 percent statewide and 59.1 percent in math, compared with 45 percent statewide.

In the Newhall district, Newhall Elementary School showed a 42-point growth in API; English-language pupils and those with disabilities failed to make federal standards in language arts. At McGrath School, where pupils increased API scores by 18 points, Latino students and English-language learners failed federal benchmarks. More than 85 percent of pupils fall into both categories, causing an overlap that affected test scores.

``These students have been identified as not having English proficiency, then we brand them by saying there are students who have not proven proficient on a state level,'' said Brian Skinner, director of educational services for the Newhall district. ``It's a Catch-22. All these tests do is reinforce those definitions.''

Skinner noted that AYP goals were achieved for socioeconomically disadvantaged pupils at every school in the district.

``Those students are facing the challenges of poverty and not only met AYP standards, but showed substantial gains,'' he said. ``It shows we're making progress for those students who have other impacts on their lives.''

In the Saugus district, some North Park Elementary School teachers had some information for the test beforehand. No API scores were posted and Superintendent Judy Fish said the district reported the mistake to the state.

``This didn't affect individual student scores.''

State officials have assured the district that they will make an attempt to come up with scores after weighing the affect the disclosure had on the testing.

Live Oak Elementary in Castaic brought its API scores up 22 points but socioeconomically disadvantaged, English-language learners and pupils with disabilities failed to make standards in both language arts and math.

Educators credited good teachers and teaching for the pupils' improvement.

``We have great teachers, they're extremely professional and capable and dedicated,'' Skinner said.

Carol Rock, [phone]

carol.rock(at)dailynews.com

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Source: California Department of Education