Anchorage School District
Best
Expect
the
Highest grad rate ever Highest graduation rate ever!
2015 Report to the Community
Goals Performance 90 percent of students will be proficient in language arts and math and will achieve at least one year’s academic growth each year. 2015 2020 English/ language arts
39% 36%
90% 90%
Parent recommendation 90 percent of parents will recommend their child’s school to others. 2015 2020
88%
90%
Math
Students were examined on new standards through the state’s new assessment Alaska Measures of Progress.
Graduation 90 percent of students will graduate high school. 2015 2020
80%
90%
Student attendance Every student will attend school at least 90 percent of the time. 2015 2020
80%
90%
All data is rounded. Detailed information is available in the Profile of Performance, available on the district’s website.
Student & staff safety 100 percent of students and staff will be safe at school. 2015 2020
72% 86%
100% 100%
Students Staff
Effective and efficient operations 100 percent of departments will rank in the top quartile for operational efficiency. Key Performance Indicators for various departments are available on the district’s website.
Our Framework for Success is built around four strategies: focusing on students, investing in staff, engaging the community and strengthening our services. By concentrating on these strategies, we are building momentum and moving closer to our goals outlined in Destination 2020. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but with the skill and commitment of our staff, and the support of our community, we are confident we’ll get there. Students thrive when they have highquality educational opportunities. Wonderful things happen for students when students are provided with interesting, hands-on activities.
››› Ethan Falaniko
Bartlett High School Senior Ethan Falaniko is a standout student in school and on the football field. He was named the Gatorade Alaska Football Player of the Year while maintaining a 3.94 grade point average and excelling in his Advanced Placement courses. In addition to football, Ethan plans to study mechanical engineering and mathematics in college. He said BHS staff, friends and sports help make him a better student.
In order to provide them the best education possible, we are individualizing our instruction in every classroom. In simple terms, this means we are providing the right instruction at the right time to each one of our students. We must focus on all of our students collectively and still meet the needs of each of them individually. Achieving that balance will be challenging but it’s what we owe our students, their parents and our community. ASD is nationally recognized for expanding access to Advanced Placement courses for students and increasing the percentage of students who score highly on AP exams.
Photo © Loren Holmes Alaska Dispatch News
Why attendance matters A missed school day is a lost opportunity for students to learn. There is a direct correlation between students who attend school regularly and higher achievement levels. As attendance drops, so does the number of students proficient in reading, writing and math. Approximately one-quarter of students missed at least 10 percent of school days last year. This is a serious concern because regular school attendance is essential for students to be successful learners. We expect students to attend school on time every day. The district’s goal is for students to attend school at least 90 percent of the time – that’s less than two absences per month.
ASD student attendance by grade 83.7%
Kindergarten
85.4%
Grade 1 Grade 2
87.5%
Grade 3
87.8%
Grade 4
88.7%
Grade 5
88.6% 85.3%
Grade 6
80.5%
Grade 7 Grade 8
78.6%
Grade 9
78.0% 72.7%
Grade 10
66.1%
Grade 11
This graph shows the percentage of students in each grade level who attended school at least 90 percent of the school year. For example, only 59.6 percent of high school seniors made the attendance goal, the remaining 40 percent missed more than 17 days of school last year (10 percent of the year).
59.6%
Grade 12 0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Anchorage is a great city with much to offer those of us who choose to live, work, play and raise families here. Our community supports public education and sees the value it provides to our society.
education and being their most important advocate. By engaging parents and the community, we are working together to make a positive impact on public education in our community.
More than 600 community partners generously offer their support to our teachers and our schools. These partners are made up of large corporations, family-owned businesses, nonprofit organizations and military units. Within each of them are the individuals who give their time and forge personal connections in our schools. We welcome and encourage parents to take an active role in their child’s education. There is no role more important or critical in society than that of a parent. Parents Wells Fargo Alaska recently honored ASD shoulder huge responsibilities, Teacher John Bruce on its ATM machines statewide. from addressing a child’s This is one of many efforts by the school business immediate needs to instilling partner to support ASD students and staff. in them the importance of
›››
We have excellent educators in our district who are dedicated and hard working. From staff in the classroom to those who provide support behind the scenes, ASD is filled with outstanding employees who routinely go above and beyond for our students and our community. Successful leaders create and sustain a culture of learning. That’s why we are strategically investing in staff so they receive continuous professional growth to further develop their skills and practices. Teachers and staff can best support students when they receive the tools and professional development they need to be at their best.
Anita Stevens – National Distinguished Principal of the Year for AK
›››
Chinook Elementary School Principal Anita Stevens emphasizes high standards, consistent involvement and positive attitudes. She has improved the school’s climate by implementing schoolwide expectations for positive and responsible behavior. Principal Stevens holds professional development and data meetings to ensure that teachers can adjust their practices based on student progress. She believes it is necessary to lead by example in order to create a productive environment.
Destination 2020 is the driving factor in all of our decision-making processes. We are targeting our services and managing our resources in order to improve effectiveness and efficiency.
›››
Airport Heights Elementary School (pictured) is undergoing a schoolwide renovation this year, as are Mountain View and Rabbit Creek elementary schools, thanks to voter-approved bonds. Gladys Wood and Turnagain elementary schools will receive schoolwide improvements next year.
In order to benefit all students and increase academic achievement, we must strengthen our services in the classroom and in support of the classroom. To do this, we will use Destination 2020 to guide us in long- and short-term planning and decision-making. It drives how we prioritize our budgetary, staffing and physical resources. We are making smart use of district resources so funds can be directed toward the classroom. Our students are the priority and we cannot forget that.
Developing the 2016-17 budget
Staffing levels—current school year
The district is building a funding proposal that closes an estimated $10 – $13 million budget gap for next year. The proposal will be designed to meet the needs of the community based on Destination 2020 goals, research, best practices and community feedback. Please stay engaged in this process that will have a direct impact on public education.
8% decrease 9%
decrease
2% decrease
Learn more at www.asdk12.org/budget. ASD has cut 241 positions from the budget since the 2012-13 school year. The biggest reduction proportionally was made in central administration while there was an overall increase in direct classroom instruction.
How ASD spends its money Staff salary & benefits–89% Other–11% Purchased services (8%) Supplies & materials (2%) Capital outlay (0.3%) Insurance (0.5%) FY 2015-16
2% increase
22% decrease 0
250
500
750
1000
1250
1500
Direct classroom instruction
Classroom teachers Support teachers (PE, music, art, health) Librarians
Instructional support
Counselors Nurses ELL & gifted support teachers Other support staff
Ancillary services & building support
Custodians Maintenance Safety & security staff Noon duties
1750
Full time equivalent positions
2000
2250
2500
2750
Building leadership & administration
Principals & assistant principals School office staff
Central support services Administration (business management, human resources, curriculum and instruction, communications, building operations)
Changes in staffing levels since 2012–13 General Fund full time equivalent positions for FY 2015-16
The Anchorage School District… educates
encompasses
has more than
students
square miles
schools and programs
48,500 2,000
130
Diversity in our schools:
2
1
3
the 3 most diverse high schools in the U.S.
of the
6 Top10 most diverse middle schools in the U.S.
100%
19 Top 20 of the
Fully licensed teachers
most diverse elementary schools in the U.S.
1 in 4
Information provided by a University of Alaska researcher.
21%
ASD students do not complete the year at the same school in which they started
of ASD families’ primary language is not English. The top languages spoken by these families are: Spanish, Hmong, Samoan, Filipino and Yup’ik. Anchorage School Board Kameron Perez-Verdia, president Kathleen Plunkett, vice president Eric Croft, member Tam Agosti-Gisler, clerk Pat Higgins, member Bettye Davis, treasurer Elisa Snelling, member Superintendent Ed Graff AnchorageSchoolDistrict
@ASD_Info @ASD_Closures
The board is committed to an environment of nondiscrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, economic status, union affiliation, disability and other human differences. No person shall be excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, any academic or extracurricular program or educational opportunity or service offered by the district. The district will comply with the applicable statutes, regulations, and executive orders adopted by federal, state and municipal agencies. The district notes the concurrent applicability of the Individuals with Disabilities Act, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the relevant disability provisions of Alaska law. Inquiries or complaints may be addressed to the district’s Equal Employment Opportunity Executive Director, who also serves as the Title IX and ADA/ADAAA Coordinator, ASD Education Center, 5530 E. Northern Lights Blvd, Anchorage, AK 99504-3135 (907) 742-4132, or to any of the following external agencies: Alaska State Commission for Human Rights, Anchorage Equal Rights Commission, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Director of the Office for Civil Rights-U.S. Department of Education or Office of Civil RightsU.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Revised 8/2012, 8/2013 This publication was produced and distributed at a cost of $0.33 per copy.
AnchorageSchoolDistrict
AnchorageSD
5530 E. Northern Lights Blvd. | Anchorage, AK 99504-3135 | (907) 742-4000 | www.asdk12.org