Important Information about Murdock Elementary

WHY IS MY SCHOOL IDENTIFIED FOR IMPROVEMENT?

• Our school has not made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for 2 years, based on state ISTEP+ test results.
• Our school did not make AYP for the 2009-10 year in the following areas: English in the sub groups of Overall, Black, White, Free/Reduced Lunch, and Special Education Students. English in the sub group Free/Reduced and in Attendance.
• Additional information about our schools performance can be found at http://www.doe.in.gov/data/.

WHAT DOES SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT MEAN?

• A school is identified for improvement after it has not made AYP for two consecutive years.
• Schools in improvement will be in one of two groups, depending on the extent to which the school needs to improve:
1. Focused improvement schools are schools did not make AYP in a few areas.
2. Comprehensive improvement schools did not make AYP in many areas.
• The levels of support and the requirements from the Indiana Department of Education are different for focused schools and for comprehensive schools. Designed to target resources based on the level of need, this approach for supporting schools is called the Differentiated Accountability Model and has been approved by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Our school is identified for Year 1, Focused.

WHAT IS MY SCHOOL DOING TO ADDRESS MY STUDENTS NEEDS?

• The school will develop a plan that meets the needs of all students.
• The district and state will help us by providing funding or training for teachers, hiring of new teachers, or offering extra programs such as after school or summer school tutoring.
• Parents will have the option to transfer their child to another school or enroll him/her in free tutoring services.

WHAT CAN PARENTS DO?

• Be sure that your child attends school every day.
• Parents can volunteer in their child's classroom; attend parent meetings and family nights.
• Parents are needed to review our Title I parent policy and compacts, as well as our school improvement plan. Contact Murdock principal Janell Uerkwitz if you want to be involved!

AS A PARENT, WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS UNDER SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT?

SCHOOL CHOICE

• All students may transfer to a different school in our district.
• You are not required to move your student to a new school.
• The school district will provide at least two school choice options for you.
• The school district will pay for all transportation costs as long as the school continues to be in improvement.
• If the school comes out of improvement (after making AYP for two consecutive years), your child may stay at the transfer school, but you will have to provide transportation.
• If you want to transfer your child, please fill out the Request for Transfer form and return by August 15, 2011.

School Options	Grades Served	Location	Spring 2011 School ISTEP+ Data Grades 3-4	Spring 2011 State Performance Data Grades 3-4
Murdock Elementary	K - 4	2100 Cason Street	ENGLISH (92%) MATH (93%)	ENGLISH (83%) MATH (79%)
Miller Elementary	K - 4	700 S. 4th St.	ENGLISH (92%) MATH (95%)	ENGLISH (83%) MATH (79%)
Glen Acres Elementary	K - 4	3767 Kimberly Drive	ENGLISH (83%) MATH (87%)	ENGLISH (83%) MATH (79%)