1. For 2007-2008
8 students out of 550 (1.5%)

2. For 2008-2009
12 students out of 560 (2.5%)

3. For 2009-2010
12 students out of 590 (2.1%)

4. For 2010-2011
1 11 students out of 600 (1.9%)

August 29, 2011

Dear CHAD Parents, Grandparents, and Guardians—

Once again, we’re writing to you as a requirement of the Federally mandated No Child Left Behind (NCLB) education renewal program. As you know, this program requires the state, school districts, and individual schools to meet specific achievement targets in math, reading and science, as well as a set of other academic indicators. [Eventually, there will be required achievement targets in all school subjects.] As of 2014, all public school students in the United States must meet these targets, including the following populations: major ethnic groups, special education students, limited English-proficient students, and low-income students. In addition, at least 95% of students enrolled in schools must participate in the State assessments (PSSA) and schools must show improvement in attendance and graduation rates. Collectively, these targets are known as Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).

In the 2011 State assessment, the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment, PSSA, CHAD met all 13 of the required thresholds including graduation rate and daily attendance, and achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). CHAD increased its Math proficiency level by 14% and increased its Reading proficiency level by 15.8%. The 2010-2011 school year was focused much more on a standards-driven curriculum, with Math and Reading Tutors assigned to each grade and we developed our own skill development strategy we call “Smart Set/Skill Set.” We also added a 3rd full-time tutor in the CHAD Tutoring Center and developed and implemented more detailed data-driven assessment of each student, making greater use of cutting-edge testing/tutoring software. At CHAD, we now test every student 4 times per year—what is called “Benchmarking”- and we use this data as one of the primary indicators of a student’s readiness for the PSSA assessment. All of these elements contributed to our success.

The NCLB program requires that we notify you of our AYP status. NCLB also provides funding for your child to receive extra academic support during the 2011-2012 school year. The free tutoring program is called Supplemental Educational Services (SES) and your child qualifies for this service because CHAD remains in a school improvement status and because your family meets the income limits under the law. [Please note that this SES program is NOT the same as CHAD’s academic support programs in the Math and Reading Literacy Centers or the tutoring CHAD requires for students in academic difficulty or who have not yet met proficiency in the PSSA exams.] A list of approved outside tutoring programs is distributed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. These programs will provide your child with tutoring that is coordinated with the CHAD curriculum. You may choose a tutoring program that best suits the needs of your child but you must select an approved PDE provider to receive the tutoring. A percentage of CHAD’s Title I funding is set aside ($400.00 per student) to cover the costs of the outside tutoring program. If it turns out that the Title I funds are not sufficient to cover the supplemental educational services for all the students who choose to participate, participation will be prioritized on the basis of academic need as determined by CHAD.

With this letter, I have attached an information sheet on tutoring services and approved SES providers, both of which will be helpful if you choose to use these services. Please complete section 1 of the enclosed “Provider Selection Form” and return it to Principal, Donna Costello. If you have any questions, please call Principal Costello at 215-351-2900 ext. 5508. We will respond promptly with specific information about whether your child has been selected to participate in the program and when tutoring will begin.

Thank you for your continued support of and belief in CHAD. We are working hard to become a stronger and better school and we are thankful for your willingness to stay with us as we make the climb to higher levels of performance and achievement.

Gratefully,

Peter Kountz, Ph.D.
Head of School