From the desk of the Superintendent:
Just want to share a few thoughts this week as we prepare for the final countdown towards the Thanksgiving Break.
Tomorrow, the Louisiana Department of Education will be releasing District and School Performance Scores for the 2022-2023 school year. While we all know that our students and schools are more than a number, it is a harsh reality that a letter grade is put out there for all to judge and compare on the academic successes of our schools. Preliminary indications show that we did really well in many of our schools and as a district we are working hard to move all back to some pre-covid results. We will be sharing in detail how Vermilion did in a press release or a newsletter tomorrow evening. The next article is an article that shares with you what goes into creating these district and school performance scores. Check it out below.
In other topics, this past week I had the opportunity to network with Superintendents from across the country as I belong to an Education Consortium that meets twice a year to discuss current educational topics that are affecting us now as well as what is on the horizon in the future.
Spending time with over 100 thought leaders from across the US gives me an opportunity to 1) realize the areas that our school system is on target with the national trends and 2) allows me the opportunity to realize we are way behind in many areas and we need to have our district and state be ready for the challenges of tomorrow. It is an honor to represent my Louisiana superintendent colleagues as these events and more importantly it is great to share the news of Vermilion to others from across the country.
The two hot topics coming out of our fall meeting included:
- The World of AI - Artificial Intelligence. It is here to stay, how can we embrace it. It will be a game changer in education and not embracing it will cause a greater educational divide.
- The nationwide problem of teacher shortages is real. But learning from a computer is not always the best thing. How can we use technology to put a live teacher in front of our students in the future.
Just know that the future of education is changing, the challenges are moving to a higher level, but we will need to work hard as a district and as stakeholders to embrace the challenges and continue to remain relevant in educating our children.
Being as our Thanksgiving Break begins on Saturday, this Superintendent will be off the grid and trying to rejuvenate. There will be no newsletter next week. So with that being said, HAPPY THANKSGIVING to you and your families and I hope all of you enjoy a little break and be thankful for all the good things that you have.
Your Partner in Education,
Superintendent Tommy Byler
School Performance Scores
Tomorrow, the Louisiana Department of Education will release School and District Performance scores for the 2022-2023 school year.
While we know that our students are more than numbers, we still must be aware of how our schools are being judged and compared to others using the Louisiana Department of Educations Accountability System. While many will just look at the bottom line letter grade and nothing else, I wanted to share with you the components this week of what goes into a School Letter Grade.
- ELEMENTARY
- 70% of the score comes from how students in grade 3-4-5 did on the LEAP exams
- 25% of the score comes from how the students in grades 4-5 grew from their previous year's test
- 5% comes from a factor called interest and opportunity. Basically, what type of courses and extra opportunities do our students have.
- MIDDLE SCHOOLS
- 65% of the score comes from how students scored on the LEAP exams.
- 25% of the scores come from how the students grew from previous year exams.
- 5% comes from a factor called interest and opportunity. Basically, what type of courses and extra opportunities do our students have.
- 5% comes from DCAI or in common terms, how many credits does an eighth grader earn in there first year of high school. So that is correct that you receive points for students who you no longer have on your campus.
- HIGH SCHOOL
- 25% comes from how well seniors scored on the ACT or Workeys Test.
- 25% comes from what type of graduation diploma and any extras that students earned. This score is a year behind and is basically the graduates of 2022 in this score for this year.
- 20% is based on if the Seniors of 2022 graduated in four-years
- 12.5% is based on LEAP Exam Results
- 12.5% is based on how much growth happened in Math and English LEAP Exams
- 5% comes from a factor called interest and opportunity. Basically, what type of courses and extra opportunities do our students have.
Most may not be interested in how these letter grades and performance scores are figured out, but the reality is this is the guidelines in which we as schools are judged.
Final Chance for A Employee Shout Out
A couple of weeks ago, I asked for all to share the good things that take place in our parish to the people who make it happen everyday, our employees. Thank you to over 300 parents, students and teachers who shared your compliments with us so that I could pass them along to our employees. Many of our employees were so excited and honored to be recognized by others.
The link below will be live for one final week before the Thanksgiving break, so you still have a chance if you want to send a special shout out to someone who is making a difference.
District events for the week of November 12th
- Monday, November 13
- School Board Committee Meetings - 6pm
- State Cross Country Meet - Natchitoches
- Tuesday, November 14th
- Parish Student of the Year Interviews
- Wednesday, November 15th
- State Swimming Meet
- Thursday, November 16th
- School Board Meeting - 6pm
- State Swim Meet
- Friday, November 17th
- Second Round State Football Playoffs
- LOOKING AHEAD...
- November 20-24 Thanksgiving Break
