The Herald Bulletin (Anderson, Indiana) April 16, 2009

HEADLINE:  South Madison makes AYP with two passing school

By Aleasha Sandley

Apr. 16--PENDLETON -- South Madison Community School Corporation passed adequate yearly progress standards (AYP) for 2008 set by the No Child Left Behind initiative.

While the school system as a whole made progress, three of the five schools did not pass AYP standards. Pendleton Heights high and middle schools and Pendleton Elementary School did not pass, while Maple Ridge Elementary and East Elementary achieved their goal.

Free/reduced lunch and special education students' scores held back the three schools from making AYP.

"One thing that concerns me about the AYP is that there is an assumption that special ed students learn at the same rate as regular ed students, and they're held at the same accountability standards, and we know that just doesn't happen," South Madison schools Superintendent Thomas Warmke said. "In many schools who don't make AYP, the normal stumbling block is special education."

Warmke said Congress should look at year-to-year improvement for special education students when setting AYP standards.

"I totally support the accountability of AYP," he said. "Special ed is a problem that needs to be reviewed. As Congress reauthorizes the No Child Left Behind Act, I know they are looking at that piece."

At a recent school board meeting, Warmke announced South Madison schools were in a "financial crisis," a factor that could affect the corporation's progress in the coming years.

"When you raise class size or even cut programs, it will affect test scores," he said. "It will be more challenging."

While three schools failed AYP, two more passed, allowing the district's average to be above requirements.

John Lord, principal of Maple Ridge Elementary, said he was thrilled with that school's AYP performance. The school passed 16 of 17 categories last year, barely missing the goal.

"In years past, special ed scores have kept us from passing," he said. "We feel like we're getting better and better with it."

The school has been focusing on improving its English test scores and is using its Response to Intervention program to improve core instruction in that area.
"I'm so proud of my staff and my kids," Lord said. "They're the ones that put in the extra time."

Contact Aleasha Sandley: 640-4805, aleasha.sandley @heraldbulletin.com.
South Madison Community Schools

Corporation: South Madison Community School Corporation made AYP and has made AYP every year since 2004. Out of 17 categories, the school corporation met 17.

Pendleton Heights High School: This school did not make AYP and has not made AYP for the last three years. Out of 17 categories, this school met 16. The school did not meet requirements for math scores for free/reduced lunch students.

Pendleton Heights Middle School: This school did not make AYP and has not made AYP for the last five years. Out of 17 categories, this school met 13. The school did not meet requirements for English or math scores for free/reduced lunch and special education students.

Pendleton Elementary School: This school did not make AYP and has not made AYP for the last three years. Out of 17 categories, this school met 14. The school did not meet requirements for English scores for special education students or math scores for free/reduced lunch and special education students.

Maple Ridge Elementary School: This school made AYP but did not make AYP for the two years before 2008. Out of 17 categories, this school met 17, including attendance.

East Elementary School: This school made AYP and has made AYP every year since the beginning of the program in 2002. Out of 17 categories, this school met 17, including attendance.