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News
Please list below any
news or events from your PTA.
FWCS Makes ISTEP Gains
ISTEP+ results for Fort Wayne Community Schools show improvement across
the board with results increasing
in two-thirds of the categories.
Results in 11 out of 18 areas tested district wide in September went up
while two more remained the same
as in 2006.
"This is wonderful news for our district and our community,"
Superintendent Dr. Wendy Robinson
said. "Our staff has worked hard for years to make sure we are using the
right curriculum and following
the best methods to ensure that each of our students is learning. That
dedication is now paying off in the
form of more students passing ISTEP."
In language arts, gains were made in five grade levels. In math, gains
were made in four grade levels with
the results staying the same in two more. In science, gains were made in
both fifth and seventh grades, the
only two grades tested.
The gains were made at the same time as the number of students with
limited English skills taking the test
increased by 86 percent and the number of students in the district
qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch
grew to 59 percent. There were 4.2 percent more students qualifying for
assistance in September 2007 than
September 2006.
"Educating all children to high standards is our focus," Robinson said.
"Our results this year
show we can do it, and we will continue to push for further improvements."
FWCS is working on several initiatives focusing on academic improvement.
One of the district's major
focuses is on the middle and high school redesign. With the help of a $3.2
million federal grant, the district
is working to make middle and high school education more rigorous and
relevant to life past high school while
building relationships with students that will encourage them to make the
most of the academic opportunities.
The district is also redesigning its Title I system, which provides
services through federal funding to
the schools with the highest percentages of students from low-income
families. There is also a direct focus on
making sure teachers are teaching the curriculum adopted by the school
district and that they are working with
students to meet their individual needs.
"Clearly, our job is not finished," Robinson said. "We can be proud of the
gains we made this
year, but more importantly, we will continue to focus on making sure our
students are learning so they can be
successful in life and help make our community stronger."
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