LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Kentucky's new method of grading schools left many with marks they didn't expect.
Oldham County Schools Superintendent Greg Schultz said he's "not a fan" of labels. His district used to be labeled as distinguished, ranked among the top in the state. Now seven campuses, including East Oldham Middle School, are targeted for support and improvement, earning the label "TSI."
"They've changed some metrics," Schultz said. "Same test, just a different way of reporting, and they've added some labels this year. No assistance, but a label."
Schultz said its been a challenge to explain the changes to parents and teachers. For example, 77 percent of the students at East Oldham Middle School tested at or above grade level, and that's far above the state average. But the TSI label comes from the state putting more emphasis on the test scores of sub-groups like minority students and kids with disabilities. Districts can no longer achieve the highest ratings when their neediest children lag behind.
"My big fear is people who are already concerned about public education, whether it's political or a media agenda, may see it as another black eye for public education," Schultz said. "It's really, I don't think, a fair way to do this."
The Kentucky Department of Education identified 51 schools for Comprehensive Support and Improvement with accountability scores from the 2017-18 school year in the lowest 5 percent of the state. Another 418 schools were identified for Targeted Support and Improvement as a result of having at least one student group performing as poorly as schools in the bottom 5 percent.
The concern is that sub-groups as small as 10 students can drag down a school's label.
“It is an imperative that we ensure every group of students is performing at high levels. We can’t leave groups of students behind,” Interim Kentucky Education Commissioner Wayne Lewis said in a Kentucky department of education statement released Wednesday. “This is a moral issue. Our expectation must be that all of our students can learn at high levels, regardless of income, gender, race/ethnicity, or disability status. It is schools’ responsibility to identify approaches, curricula, and strategies for meeting students’ needs. Our students and their families depend on it, and our Commonwealth depends on it.”
While statewide accountability remain flat, the emphasis on sub-groups and gaps impacted many districts locally. In Hardin County, 15 schools are listed as needing comprehensive or targeted support and improvement. Bullitt County was once considered a model turnaround school system, but now half of its schools are in the same lower rankings.
"I think what really disappoints me most about the system as it is now, the newer system, is there's no mechanism yet to celebrate what's going on well in schools," said Jesse Bacon, superintendent of Bullitt County Schools.
Those schools that get it right are labeled as "other."
This is a baseline year for the new accountability system, so there's no good way to compare scores from this year to last year. Eventually, Kentucky will move to a 1-5 ratings system for all schools.
For more information on the grading of the schools, CLICK HERE.
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