State Raises Grade For Lakeland Christian Academy
April 21, 2017 at 5:53 p.m.
By Michael [email protected]
When the accountability grades were released in December, LCA was the only area school to score an “F.”
The grades, which are released annually, are based on schools’ growth and performance.
After the scores were released, LCA appealed the decision to the State Board of Education.
On April 6, the State Board of Education voted 6-2 to change LCA’s grade to a “C.”
“We still disagree with the grade,” said Administrator Joy Lavender. “The grade does not reflect LCA’s students or staff.”
LCA challenged its scores on the graduation rate and College and Career Readiness portions of the grade.
LCA argued three foreign students, who transferred back to their home countries before graduating, should not count against its graduation.
Due to LCA’s number of students, once the three students were removed its graduation rate changed from 60 to 80 percent.
LCA attributed some of the other non-graduates to homeschool students.
The board rejected those arguments as irrelevant.
LCA also argued its College and Career Readiness should be recalculated since 12 of its graduating seniors took dual credit.
IDOE opposed the change to LCA’s grade. IDOE officials argued LCA had more than a year to update its data, including the three foreign students who transferred out.
IDOE argued the state should not be held liable for LCA’s lack of correct data reporting.
IDOE “Cannot support the recommendation of changing the data since the state cannot afford a data system built on framework of fluid submission and missed deadlines,” according to IDOE’s response to LCA’s appeal.
IDOE expressed concern that changing LCA’s grade would create a scenario where “individuals will not have confidence in the accountability system.”
Numerous area superintendents derided the grades and the ISTEP test, another factor in scoring, when the grades were first released.
Officials pointed to technical problems with the ISTEP, and ever-changing criteria on which the schools are judged.
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When the accountability grades were released in December, LCA was the only area school to score an “F.”
The grades, which are released annually, are based on schools’ growth and performance.
After the scores were released, LCA appealed the decision to the State Board of Education.
On April 6, the State Board of Education voted 6-2 to change LCA’s grade to a “C.”
“We still disagree with the grade,” said Administrator Joy Lavender. “The grade does not reflect LCA’s students or staff.”
LCA challenged its scores on the graduation rate and College and Career Readiness portions of the grade.
LCA argued three foreign students, who transferred back to their home countries before graduating, should not count against its graduation.
Due to LCA’s number of students, once the three students were removed its graduation rate changed from 60 to 80 percent.
LCA attributed some of the other non-graduates to homeschool students.
The board rejected those arguments as irrelevant.
LCA also argued its College and Career Readiness should be recalculated since 12 of its graduating seniors took dual credit.
IDOE opposed the change to LCA’s grade. IDOE officials argued LCA had more than a year to update its data, including the three foreign students who transferred out.
IDOE argued the state should not be held liable for LCA’s lack of correct data reporting.
IDOE “Cannot support the recommendation of changing the data since the state cannot afford a data system built on framework of fluid submission and missed deadlines,” according to IDOE’s response to LCA’s appeal.
IDOE expressed concern that changing LCA’s grade would create a scenario where “individuals will not have confidence in the accountability system.”
Numerous area superintendents derided the grades and the ISTEP test, another factor in scoring, when the grades were first released.
Officials pointed to technical problems with the ISTEP, and ever-changing criteria on which the schools are judged.
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