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Wednesday, September 30, 2009

PED Makes No Excuses for Errors or Dropouts

By Veronica C. Garcia
Secretary, Public Education Department
      While it is easy to get caught up in a blame game over something as important as graduation and dropout rates, let's not lose sight of why these statistics are so important. I want to explain why it is imperative that we all work together to get this right and focus on doing whatever it takes to keep every single student in school and on track to graduate.
       The bottom line is that we must all insist on transparent and accurate statistics as part of a strong system of accountability. Getting the data right is more important than saving face. I'm not making any excuses for the thousands of students who leave our schools every year with no hope of returning to earn a diploma. Likewise, school districts, charter schools, parents and students shouldn't make excuses. We're all in this together.
       In a few short days, on Oct. 2, I will certify the Adequate Yearly Progress ratings and the state's first cohort graduation rate. The certification of AYP rates is not a new practice. Every year the districts and charter schools have the opportunity to appeal their ratings related to data issues. Over time the number of appeals has decreased as districts and charter schools have improved the quality of the data reported to the PED.
       This is the first year that we are preparing to report a four-year cohort graduation rate. I am concerned that recent headlines and concerns expressed by leaders at Albuquerque Public Schools may have created confusion. Therefore, before Friday's announcement, I want to clear up some facts:
       n The graduation rate to be certified is for the graduating class of 2008.
       n After the preliminary announcement 73 percent of school districts statewide had a change of between 0 to 5 percent due to self-reported corrections. Thirty-one of the 89 districts had no change in graduation rates.
       n Like the rest of the country, New Mexico has adopted a new methodology recommended by the National Governor's Association. The nation, individual states, and school districts are asked to use this common methodology for consistency and accuracy.
       n In the past, APS has computed a four-year graduation rate accounting only for its students and using a different methodology.
       n The NGA methodology gives us a more accurate picture of who is leaving our schools before graduating. For example, this methodology creates a more realistic baseline by allowing districts to remove from their original ninth-grade cohort the students who have left the country, gone to a private school, transferred out of state, etc. APS had a larger ninth-grade cohort due to including these types of students, which made the graduation rate look smaller than what it actually was.
       n The data review process with the districts began as early as September 2008 and continued through September 2009.
       n The cohort rate announcement was delayed as long as possible out of courtesy to the districts. However, to meet federally mandated and state statute requirements, we must announce AYP ratings before the start of school. Graduation rates are a part of the AYP rating. For New Mexico, that deadline is Aug. 1.
       n In accordance with New Mexico's accountability agreement with the U.S. Department of Education, 2009 was the deadline to begin reporting a four-year cohort graduation rate.
       n APS is not the only district requesting corrections to self-reported data. PED expects that data entry and other technology issues will occur and plans accordingly with review and validation periods before official certification. We work collaboratively with districts to resolve issues until the data are as accurate as possible.
       The Public Education Department, like any other organization, also makes errors, and we work with the districts and charter schools to correct them. We have adopted a continuous improvement process and are committed to working with the districts, including APS, to improve communication and data quality. Our students deserve our best.
       

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