About 281 Exposed

This site is dedicated to publishing Robbinsdale school events and issues that District 281 residents need to know. Sugarcoating and throwing more money on failure is not helping our kids, and we have seen the dismal decline of student achievement and safety in our district. 14 out of 16 schools failed Annual Yearly Progress in 2009. Bullying is on the rise, and more officers are being hired to patrol the schools. Bad employees/directors get shifted around instead of getting fired. Three schools closed after another referendum passed, breaking the trust of many parents and citizens after district boundaries were changed. Sadly, three incumbents were re-elected in 2009.

By shining a light on issues and holding leadership accountable, we hope to help Robbinsdale Schools become a great district again. We will not publish gossip, and will provide links to the article source for verification.

If you have a story to contribute (publicly or confidentially), please email us: 281exposed “at” gmail.com.

10 Robbinsdale Schools Fail AYP

From the MN Sun-Post:

Ten Robbinsdale Area Schools failed to make “adequate yearly progress,” according to information released Aug. 29 by the Minnesota Department of Education.

The data is based on students’ performance on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments taken last spring.

AYP is a measurement of each school’s progress in meeting requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Schools make AYP by meeting benchmarks for the number of their students meeting or exceeding standards on state-developed assessment, or by decreasing the percentage of students not meeting or exceeding the standards.

AYP is calculated separately by subgroups, which include English language learners, students in special education, ethnic groups and students receiving free and reduced-price meals. Results for all students and each subgroup must meet AYP benchmarks in order for a school or district to make AYP.

Statewide, 1,189 schools – including charter school and alternative-learning programs – made AYP in 2007, while 729 did not. The number of schools failing to make AYP in 2007 is an increase of 246 schools over 2006.

In Robbinsdale District 281, none of the three middle schools or two high schools made AYP, though they did reach targets set by the state for most demographic groups, according to district officials.

This is the fourth consecutive year Armstrong High School in Plymouth, Cooper High School in New Hope and Plymouth

Middle School have failed to meet the benchmarks.

Sandburg Middle School in Golden Valley made AYP in 2005, but did not this year or last.

Five District 281 elementary schools did not make AYP: Lakeview Elementary in Robbinsdale; Meadow Lake in New Hope; Noble in Golden Valley; Northport in Brooklyn Center; and Pilgrim Lane in Plymouth.

Plymouth Middle School and Meadow Lake, Noble, Northport and Pilgrim Lane elementary schools missed AYP in just one category, according to a news release from District 281 officials.