Program Improvement
See the district's
LEA 2012 Plan Addendum for information on how we will use Title I and other funds to improve student achievement.
2012/13 Program Improvement Schools
Murrieta Valley Unified is an exemplary district according to the State of California's academic and accountability standards which are the most rigorous in the nation. The federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act/ No Child Left Behind requires all states to meet academic standards for what a child should know and be able to do in English-language arts and mathematics. Every school must improve each year until all students meet these standards. This yearly improvement in school performance is called Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).
If these criteria are not met for two years in a row, schools and districts that receive federal Title I funds are identified for Program Improvement (PI). Murrieta Valley Unified was identified as a PI district in 2011 and in 2012.
Our district was one of 485 districts in the state that missed meeting the federal accountability measures under NCLB. High-performing schools across the country are finding it increasingly difficult to meet the NCLB rates of improvement and rising Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) benchmarks. By 2013/14 NCLB will require 100% of students to be proficient.
California’s State Board of Education sought a waiver of NCLB’s provisions on behalf of all California school districts. State Superintendent Tom Torlakson said, "It’s time to leave behind No Child Left Behind and the requirements that any school that fails to meet federal proficiency targets be labeled a failing school and enter a federally mandated system of program improvement."
AYP is based upon the following factors:
- California's own accountability measurement of progress, the Academic Performance Index (API)
- The percentage of students scoring at the proficient or advancedlevel on the California Standards Tests for English-language arts and mathematics
- The percentage of students participating in those tests
- For high schools, the graduation rate
As a PI district we must:
- Notify all parents of our P1 status and what their options are and how parents can help the school and district. Download the 2012 District PI Notification Letter
- Allow parents of students who attend Program Improvement schools to transfer their child, with paid transportation, to a school in the district that is not identified as a Program Improvement school.
- Allow parents of Rail Ranch students who test below proficient to apply for tutoring at the district's expense. View an updated list of Supplemental Educational Service Providers or contact Joanne Seedborg at 696-1600 x. 1018 for more information.
- Write an LEA Plan Addendum. Parents and school staff were consulted in the preparation of the LEA Plan Addendum, which includes information on how we plan to use Title I and other funds to improve student achievement.
- Reserve at least ten percent of our annual Title I allocation to provide professional development for teachers and administrators.
- Continue to provide assistance to the district's program improvement schools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the district fail to make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)?
Although our students have shown excellent growth overall, and our subgroups have also shown progress, in 2011 and 2012 several sub-groups did not meet the proficiency bar in English or Math. English language learners, students with disabilities, socioeconomically disadvantaged and minorities are all considered sub-groups. District-wide, about 70% of students are proficient in English Language Arts and Math. Schools and districts who miss making AYP in only one category or sub-group of students or they may miss the mark by failing one of many criteria measured and they are at risk of going into Program Improvement.
What is being done to make sure students are succeeding?
The district has implemented a number of strategies to help students meet the expectations. Our administrators and Professional Learning Communities are analyzing the data for those students who are not proficient and we are providing targeted interventions for those students. We are seeing solid academic growth and improvement, yet under NCLB, the AYP targets are increasing every year, far beyond what is reasonable. By 2013-14, 100 percent of students will be expected to score at the proficient level or above, a goal most educators agree is unrealistic.
What can parents do to help the school district improve?
- Learn more about the ESEA/NCLB requirements and become aware of strategies to improve student academic achievement. Additional information and resources are available at the California Department of Education website and from the U.S. Department of Education.
- Talk with district staff about the LEA Plan and the program changes that must be made to help students meet the state standards in ELA and mathematics.
- Visit your child’s school and participate in voluntary activities to assist your school.
Program Improvement School Choice Transfers
Parents who are interested in transferring their child or children to a non-PI school in the district for the 2012-13 school year, may submit an intradistrict transfer request. For more information about non-PI schools, please contact the district at 951-696-1600, ext. 1164
The deadline to submit a
PI School Choice transfer request closes March 8, 2013, however, MVUSD will consider transfer requests received after that date if there is a valid reason for the request.
Download the Intradistrict Transfer Form
