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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]With the way accreditation standards have changed for ESOL students recently, a school like Key or Lee stands to see a big increase, not decrease.[/quote]

So instead of lifting people to meet the standards, they lower than standards?[/quote]

That is a state thing, not a Lee thing.[/quote]

Gatehouse insider. I want to clear up a few things.

First, this year's pass rates reflect the standards by the VA DOE that are going away next year. There are many, many ESOL students not included in this population even though they take the test. We've modeled based on the VA DOE standards going into next year and there are going to be issues if the state maintains the approach it current has in terms of assessing students' SOL scores for accreditation. There are some grumblings in Richmond that they may do another year extension and kick the can down the road, but no one knows and we were told nothing would be set until well into the fall by the state.

Second, yes, Lee has issues with graduation rates, but again, there has been some relief from the state on that front when it comes to ESOL students. That actually helps Lee and isn't a big issue since the method of calculating grad rates isn't going to change to capture more ESOL students.

Third, all of the admins in this pyramid are doubling down to try to get students up to speed on foundational learning. That's why there was this whole push to add math and language arts remediation at Key for example. They are trying to get as many students that are currently in the pyramid across the proficiency line before they get to Lee because...

Fourth, Lee gets an influx of older ESOL learners as a designated learning site for ESOL because they got rid of the night school to save money. This population of students drop off at high rates (because they need to work and struggle learning and the day time schedule cuts into their ability to make money). One sad point -- graduation rates were 200 percent higher at the night school. It worked much better for these kids and they were able to learn, stagger childcare, etc. It sucks that it's gone as an option.

Finally, they are looking into budgeting options for creating an IB center east that would encompass a middle MYP program at Key and an IB program at Lee that would be exclusively IB students. The point of contention is whether busing would be included and whether it would, indeed, save money. Another issue is the Western High school issue. The idea is being floated that if this occurs, it would be tied with the Western High school and a bond would need to be approved. It's all very theoretical right now and in the preliminary planning phases. [/quote]

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