According to the U.S. Department of Education, state and local school district report cards are critical tools for promoting accountability for schools, local school districts and states by publicizing data about student performance and program effectiveness for parents, policy makers and other stakeholders. Report cards help parents and the general public see where schools and districts are succeeding and where there is still work to do.
A well-informed public is an important resource in the school and district improvement process. In the same way that data enable educators to make better decisions about teaching and learning, data can also help parents and other community members work more effectively with educators and local school officials to promote school change. Additionally, the more parents and community members know about the academic achievement of their children and their schools, the more likely they are to be involved in their local schools and the public school system.
States and local education agencies or school districts receiving federal Title I funds must prepare and disseminate annual report cards. Individual school report cards are not required but information about each school must be included in the district’s report card.
Similar to state report cards, district report cards must include information related to assessments, accountability and teacher quality for the district as a whole and as it applies to each school served by the district. For example, for each grade and subject tested, the district report card must include for the district and for each school served by the district, including non Title-I schools, the following:
Information on the percentage of students tested and student achievement at each proficiency level (e.g., advanced, proficient, basic, below basic) disaggregated by the following subgroups:
- All Students
- Major Racial & Ethnic groups
- Students with Disabilities
- Limited English Proficient
- Economically Disadvantaged
- Migrant (not required for Adequate Yearly Progress determinations)
- Gender (not required for Adequate Yearly Progress determinations)
For more information, please contact tom.dauphinee@state.nm.us.
