November 21, 2006
Dear MTRSD Parents and Guardians:
Based on student MCAS scores in 2005-2006, the Mohawk Trail Regional School District (MTRSD) demonstrated Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in both English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics in both the aggregate and all subgroups.
As required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act, all schools and districts are expected to meet or exceed specific student performance standards in ELA/reading and math by the year 2014. In order to reach this objective, school and district AYP determinations are made annually based on the performance of students in the aggregate and for student subgroups for both ELA and mathematics.
As a result of the 2005-2006 MCAS scores, the MTRSD has exited its prior status as a District In Need of Improvement in ELA by the Massachusetts Department of Education (DOE) and is half way toward doing the same in mathematics. DOE requires all districts to achieve AYP for two consecutive years before exiting In Need of Improvement status. The MTRSD has met this two-year requirement in ELA but needs one more year of successful AYP in mathematics to do the same.
Because the MTRSD remains a District In Need of Improvement in mathematics, it will revise its District Improvement Plan (DIP) to address the reasons for low student performance and reserve not less than 10% of its Title I Part A funds for high quality professional development specifically designed to address the academic achievement problem areas. The revised DIP must be completed no later than three months after the district was identified for improvement, which occurred on October 19, 2006.
We invite and welcome your ideas about how we can further improve student learning at MTRSD. You may contact the Superintendent's office at 625-0192 to find out how to offer suggestions and to contribute to the revised DIP.
Thank you for the privilege of educating your children. The District looks forward to working with you to correct this AYP issue fully and make MTRSD a model of educational excellence.
Sincerely,
Michael A. Buoniconti Superintendent of Schools
