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Report Card on TN Schools

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Report Card Terminology

Above (status):
Students in this school made significantly more progress in this subject than students in the average school in the state.
Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP):
Adequate Yearly Progress is a measure of a school’s or school system’s ability to meet required federal benchmarks with specific performance standards from year to year.
Administrators:
These are directors of schools, principals, supervisors, assistant principals, etc.
Attendance:
This refers to the attendance rate, the average number of days students attend school as compared to the average number of days the students are enrolled.
Below (status):
Students in this school made significantly less progress in this subject than students in the average school in the state.
Criterion Referenced Tests (CRT):
Criterion referenced tests measure an individual student’s performance against a predetermined set of standards which are established based on the curriculum.
Dropout Rate:
The percentage of those students entering the 9th grade that has dropped out by the end of 12th grade. Prior to 2007-2008, the Tennessee Department of Education used net enrollment instead of membership for this calculation. As a result of changing to membership, the 2007-2008 dropout rates may be higher. Membership is the unique count of students enrolled as of October 1, whereas net enrollment is a cumulative count of students who enroll throughout the school year.
English Language Learner:
Non-English speaking students.
Expulsion:
A student expelled from school is one who is not allowed to attend school for a period of time greater than ten days, and they are removed from school rolls during the period of expulsion.
Free/Reduced Price Meals:
These children are from families who meet certain income criteria making them eligible to receive free or reduced meals at school.
Gateway Exams:
Students who entered the 9th grade in 2001-2002 must attain a score indicating “Proficient” or “Advanced” on each of the Gateway examinations in three subject areas - mathematics, science and language arts - in order to earn a high school diploma.
Graduation Rate:
A federally required benchmark which calculates the percent of on-time graduates with a regular high school diploma. GED and Special Education diplomas are not allowed to count as a regular high school diploma under regulations from the U.S. Department of Education.
High Priority School/School System:
A high priority school/school system is one that has missed the same federal benchmark for more than one consecutive year. The different levels of high priority schools/systems are  School Improvement 1, School Improvement 2, Corrective Action, Restructuring 1, Restructuring 2 and SEA/LEA Reconstitution Plan.
Highly Qualified Teacher:
Any public elementary or secondary school teacher who holds at least a Bachelor's Degree, is fully-licensed in Tennessee and submits the required documents to demonstrate competency in the content area(s) being taught.
NDD (status):
The progress of students in this school was "not detectably different" (NDD) from the progress of students in the average school in the state.
No Child Left Behind (NCLB):
NCLB was implemented during the 2002-2003 school year. It requires schools to have 100 percent proficiency among students in math, reading and language arts by 2014. They must also meet graduation and attendance standards.
Normal Curve Equivalent (NCE):
Normal Curve Equivalent is the mapping of percentile data into corresponding points in a normal distribution. The purpose is to enable data to be analyzed consistent with the Value-Added Report and the Achievement Report on the Report Card.
Norm Referenced Tests (NRT):
ives a comparison of student performance in five content areas against a national norm group of students taking a similar test. The expectation is that the average score for a school or school system will be at the national average.
Number of Students:
Average daily count of students enrolled, which is generally referred to as the Average Daily Membership or ADM. The ADM is used to determine the amount of state funding each system receives.
Observed Score:
A student’s observed score is the score reported for the student when he or she was tested.
Per Pupil Expenditure (Local, State and Federal):
Total current operating expenditures on a per pupil basis. Some examples are instructional materials, maintenance, and transportation.
Predicted Score:
A student's predicted score is an expected score, based on his or her performance on previous tests, assuming the student is in the average school in the state.
Promotion:
Those students who are promoted to the next grade each year.
SACS Accredited:
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredits elementary, middle and high schools based on rigorous standards for school improvement that focus on student performance.
Suspension:
A student who is not allowed to attend school for a period of time not greater than ten days and remains on the school rolls.
Target School/School System:
A target school/school system is one that missed a federal benchmark in at least one area for the first year. There are no sanctions/penalties for target schools/systems. The Department of Education offers technical assistance to help keep target schools/systems from becoming high priority schools/systems.
Teacher Permits:
A permit is permission granted to a local school system to employ temporarily a degreed individual who does not hold a valid license when the school system is unable to obtain the services of a qualified teacher for the grade or subject area in which a vacancy exists.
Teacher Waivers:
The teacher is licensed but teaching out of his or her field because no other certified teacher is available to teach that subject.
Title I:
Federally funded programs in high poverty schools that target children with low achievement.
Value-Added:
Value-added measures student progress within a grade and subject, which demonstrates the influence the school has on the students’ performance. This reporting provides diagnostic information for improving educational opportunities for students at all achievement levels.