WATSON WILLIAMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

107 Elmwood Place

Utica, New York 13501

Phone: 315.792.2167 Fax: 315.792.1133

Henry Frasca

Principal

March 24, 2004

RE: School Progress

Dear Parents/Guardians:

The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001 requires all states to create high academic standards for what a child should know and learn for all grades in English Language Arts and Mathematics. Each school must improve each year until all students meet these standards. This yearly improvement is called Annual Yearly Progress (AYP).

NCLB also requires the New York State Education Department (NYSED) to annually review the performance of each district that receives funds under Title I. The District is required to inform you about our performance.

Watson Williams Elementary School is a school in good standing and meets or exceeds all of the State Academic Standards. A review of Grade 4 New York State Assessments shows Watson Williams exceeds similar schools in performance on state assessments of English Language Arts, Mathematics and Science. The percentage of all students meeting or exceeding the State Standards for English Language Arts has risen for three consecutive years from 54% in 2001, to 59% in 2002 to 62% in 2003. Students meeting or exceeding the State Standards for Mathematics reached 85% in 2003. Also in 2003, 75% of Watson students achieved a score at or above the State Designated Level for Science.

For the 2003 – 2004 school year, the Utica City School District has been identified as a District In Need of Improvement (DINI). This designation has resulted from Proctor High School not meeting its Annual Yearly Progress targets in English Language Arts and Mathematics for the 2001 – 2002 school year. In 2002 – 2003, they met their AYP but did not meet their Annual Measurable Objectives (AMO) in English Language Arts and Mathematics for a small subgroup of 14 out of 39 students tested. Proctor met or exceeded its AMO in 7 of 8 subgroup categories: Total Population, Limited English Proficient, Students with Disabilities, Economically Disadvantaged, White, Black and Asian/Pacific Islander.

As a District In Need of Improvement (DINI), the District is:

Ø consulting with parents and school staff as we develop our District Improvement Plan. This plan explains how the District will use Title I and other funds to improve Title I schools;

Ø reserving at least ten percent of its annual Title I allocation to provide professional development for teachers and administrators; and

Ø continuing to provide technical assistance to school identified at Title I Schools In Need of Improvement (SINI) and/or Title I Corrective Action Schools.

How can you help?

Here are some suggestions to help support our efforts:

1. Learn more about new NCLB requirements. The strategies to improve student

academic achievement are listed on these websites:

· www.emsc.nysed.gov - The New York State Education Department

· www.ed.gov - The United State Department of Education

· www.nycenet.edu - The New York City Department of Education

2. Talk with District staff about our District Improvement Plan to help students.

3. Visit your child’s school and volunteer.

For further information on any of these requirements and to find out how you can become involved in school improvement efforts, please do not hesitate to call your principal or me.

Thank you.

Daniel G. Lowengard Henry Frasca

Superintendent of Schools Principal, Watson Williams

DGL/cac