August 21, 2011

Dear Parents and Community Members:

We are pleased to present you with Annual Education Report (AER) which provides key information on the 2010-2011 educational progress for the Detroit Academy of Arts & Sciences School District and our schools. The AER addresses the complex reporting information required by federal and some requirements of state laws; however, our staff is available to help you understand this information. Please contact Mr. Maurice Morton, District CEO, for help if you need assistance.

The AER is available for you to review electronically by visiting the following website www.daask12.com or you may review a copy in the principal's office at your child's school. 

The report contains the following information:

Student Assessment Data - Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP), Michigan Merit Exam (MME), and Michigan's Alternative Assessment Program (MI-Access)

Presents achievement data for English language arts and mathematics for grades 3 to 8 (MEAP), for grade 11 (MME) and science for grades 5 and 8 compared to targets for all students as well as subgroups of students

• Provides achievement data for English language arts, mathematics and science for students with significant disabilities (MI-Access) compared to targets for all students with disabilities as well as subgroups of student

• Helps readers understand achievement progress within schools and compare these to district and state achievement

Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) - Detail Data and Status

Provides information from assessments, graduation and attendance rates and AYP status in relation to four criteria:

• The district must test 95% of students in total and in each required subgroup
• The district must attain achievement goals in English language arts and mathematics or reduce the percentage of students in the non-proficient category of achievement significantly ("safe harbor") annually
• The district must attain achievement goals for each subgroup that has at least30 students in the group
• The district must meet or exceed the other academic indicators set by the state: graduation rate for high schools and attendance rate for elementary and middle schools

Teacher Quality Data

• Identifies teacher qualifications at district and school levels
• Reports percentage of core academic classes taught by teachers not considered highly qualified to teach such classes

NAEP Data (National Assessment of Educational Progress)

• Provides state results of the national assessment in mathematics and reading every other year in grades 4 to 8
• Cannot be compared with MEAP results for grades 4 to 8 because there are no national standards

For 2010-2011, the Detroit Academy of Arts & Sciences school district made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in English language arts and mathematics; however, all schools in the district did not make AYP. Below you will find a list of the schools not making AYP, the reasons for not making AYP and a summary of the actions underway to improve. The principal has a letter and school specific AER that will help answer your questions. These are also posted on the district and school websites.

To reach the achievement goals in English language arts, Detroit Academy of Arts & Sciences Elementary School has implemented the following strategies for improvement:

• Research based best practices for instruction such as Robert Marzano's Nine Instructional Practices and Differentiated Instruction
• A plan to use local, state, and perception data to inform curriculum decision-making
• Providing tutoring and academic support for low performing students
• Designing a more rigorous curriculum with instructional practices that improve achievement

Parents can get infolved by...

• Ensuring that their child gets a full night's rest, completes all homework assignments and is present and on-time daily
• Attending Parent Teacher conferences to monitor student progress
• Encouraging students to attend Summer Programs, after school tutorial programs, and Supplemental Education Services for free tutoring, if eligible 
• Becoming active in the school by joining the Parent Advisory Council, attending Curriculum Meetings and visiting the classroom.

At the Detroit Academy of Arts & Sciences, students achievement remains our top priority. It is our pleasure to work with parents and community members to provide the critical support necessary for the success of all students enrolled in the Detroit Academy of Arts & Sciences. We look forward to continued success and improvement.

Sincerely,

Maruice Morton

Chief Executive Officer