Just weeks before the beginning of the 2011-12 school year, administrators across Arizona received results from the spring 2011 AIMS (Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards) test, showing a mixed bag of good and bad news for school districts.
The results of Snowflake School District tests were fairly in line with most other Navajo County school districts, with reading and science scores remaining good, and mathematics and writing showing some decline. (See accompanying chart.)
Learning of the results, Superintendent Hollis Merrell did not express surprise, relating that there were statewide declines in mathematics and writing, especially evident at the junior high level, and educators believe most of the changes from 2010 scores reflect changes to the test.
Based on AIMS results, a federal accountability program that is part of the No Child Left Behind Act determined five of the six Snowflake-Taylor schools made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). Snowflake Intermediate School failed to achieve AYP, as did junior high schools in Winslow and Holbrook. Joseph City Schools was the only district in the county with all schools achieving AYP. In Arizona, 814 of 1,938 schools, or 42 percent, did not make AYP.
While state educators are continuing to assess the AIMS program for deficiencies and possible improvements, Merrell has been working with district administration and teachers to more closely align the district’s curriculum with the state standards, which are established through AIMS.
The district is implementing Beyond Textbooks, a primarily web-based curriculum that ensures state standards are being taught consistently throughout the district and emphasizes collaboration among educators to build on a child’s grasp of core standards from year to year.
Merrell believes implementing the new curriculum will result in better results on future AIMS testing district wide.
