Some struggling schools in Southeast Missouri are reversing the trend while a growing number are faltering under increased pressure to hit federal proficiency targets.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released the results of the Missouri Assessment Program last week. The annual test measures districts' progress toward proficiency goals required under the federal No Child Left Behind act. This year, proficiency targets were 67.4 percent in communication arts and 63.3 percent in math. Next year's targets will be around 75 percent, and in 2014 all students are expected to be proficient.

Local administrators said students are making progress, but they are concerned about reaching 100 percent.

"I have always held that this accountability is good," said Dr. Rita Fisher, assistant superintendent of the Jackson School District. The requirements have changed how educators look at a classroom and collaboration among teachers has increased, she said.

Out of the 18 school districts in Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Scott and Perry counties, 13 did not meet the annual proficiency standards and 10 face sanctions. While most of those districts did not meet proficiency targets, 16 made improvements in math, communications arts or both.

The trend mirrors statewide data. The number of students scoring proficient or advanced increased, especially in math. Meanwhile, the number of schools marked for improvement increased to 604, compared to 495 last year.

In Southeast Missouri, some schools that were under sanctions made gains this year, while schools that traditionally scored well fell short. Administrators expect more schools to fall short in the coming years as the goals approach the 100 percent proficiency mark. Seven schools that have consistently met the targets did not meet adequate yearly progress for the first time this year. Two of those schools are in the Cape Girardeau School District, Clippard and Alma Schrader elementary schools.

Of the schools that made gains this year, Central Middle School is a bright spot for the Cape Girardeau School District. The school made adequate yearly progress for the first time.

"It's one of those things where none of us as a staff can keep a smile off our face," said principal Mark Kiehne.

The school has instituted several tools to help struggling students make progress. Students stay after school to do homework during Cub Club. The school also holds MAP academies before testing time. The improved test scores prove the new approaches are working and the school will continue building on them, Kiehne said.

The school was required to take corrective action last year after not meeting progress standards. The school offered supplemental tutoring and is required to continue.

Districts start receiving sanctions after two years of not meeting progress targets. Schools receiving Title 1 federal funds face harsher consequences. Non-Title 1 schools that do not meet the targets are only required to implement a school improvement plan.

Six Southeast Missouri school districts -- Caruthersville, Charleston, Senath-Hornersville, Doniphan, Hayti and Kennett -- will implement a restructuring plan, the highest level of sanctions. Aside from two districts in southwest Missouri, the other restructuring districts are in the St. Louis and Kansas City areas.

Blanchard Elementary in Cape Girardeau will offer school choice. The district mailed letters to parents who can request to send their child to another school within the district. Jefferson Elementary is also required to offer school choice as well as supplemental services but made improvements this year. Students met progress standards in communication arts for the first time since 2006.

"We are making improvements even though we're not staying up with that increasing state target," said curriculum coordinator Theresa Hinkebein.

Central Middle School was the only school in the district to meet proficiency targets this year. Proficiency scores, however, were up across the board.

Statewide, the number of schools in corrective action increased to 93 from 69 last year. Perryville and Scott City elementary schools were added to the list of schools in corrective action, which requires the district to replace failing staff, institute new curricula, decrease management authority, appoint an outside expert to advise, extend the school year or provide professional development.

In Scott City, the district made slight gains over scores from last year. Elementary students, however, lost ground in math and communication arts. Superintendent Diann Bradshaw-Ulmer said she attributes the dip to the implementation of curriculum alignment. She said she hopes the trend will reverse as teachers continue working with the new strategy.

Students at other grade levels made gains, especially in the high school, where proficiency in math increased by more than 10 percentage points.

"I think we are doing tremendous strides in those scores," she said.

The Jackson School District experienced a similar trend with students at the high school level. Math scores bounced back after a double-digit drop last year. Last year was the first year for the end-of-course exams, tests in English, biology and algebra for high school students.

Districtwide, proficiency scores held steady in communication but increased in math.

Three schools, Millersville, West Lane and South elementary schools, met adequate yearly progress. None of the district's Title 1 schools received sanctions.

Orchard Drive Elementary, a kindergarten-through-third-grade school, missed targets in both subject areas after consistently meeting them in the past. Fisher said the district will look at increasing collaboration between the third-grade teachers at Orchard Drive and other elementary schools to increase communication and scores.

"We really study this and try to make changes," she said.

abusch@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

301 N. Clark Ave. Cape Girardeau, MO

614 E. Adams St. Jackson, MO

3000 Main St. Scott City, MO

Scores for local schools

School, Comm. Arts AYP, Math AYP, Sanctions

Jackson

High School not met met improvement year 2, develop or revise a school improvement plan

Junior High not met not met improvement year 2, develop or revise a school improvement plan

Middle School not met met improvement year 3, develop or revise a school improvement plan

Orchard Drive not met not met no sanctions

Gordonville -- -- K-2, not tested

Millersville met met no sanctions

North not met met Develop a school improvement plan.

South met met no sanctions

West Lane met met no sanctions

Cape Girardeau

Central High School not met not met improvement year 4, develop or revise a school improvement plan

Central Junior High not met met improvement year 4, develop or revise a school improvement plan

Central Middle School met met improvement level 3, take corrective action, delayed

Alma Schrader met not met no sanctions

Franklin not met met no sanctions

Blanchard not met not met improvement level 1, offer school choice

Clippard not met not met no sanctions

Jefferson met not met improvement level 2, offer supplimental services, delayed

Scott City

High School met met no sanctions

Middle School not met not met improvement year 3, develop or revise a school improvement plan

Elementary not met not met improvement level 3, take corrective action

All subgroups with a school district are required to meet annual proficiency targets. There must be 30 or more students for a subgroup to be evaluated:

In the Cape Girardeau School District three of 14 subgroups met progress standards in math and communication arts. Thirteen of those groups made improvements over the previous year. The district's subgroups include black students, white students, students receiving free or reduced lunches, students with individualized education plans, hispanic students and students with limited english proficiency.

In the Jackson School District four of 10 subgroups met progress standards in math and communication arts. Seven of those subgroups made improvements over the previous year. The district's subrgroups include black students, white students, students receiving free or reduced lunches and students with individualized education plans.

In the Scott City School District none of the district's eight subgroups met progress standards in math and communication arts. Four of those subgroups made improvements over the previous year. The district's subgroups include white students, students receiving free or reduced lunches and students with individualized education plans.