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PRESS RELEASE

August 4, 2006

Cathy Schroeder
(850) 245-0413

Education Commissioner Winn Announces Results of 2006 School Grades Appeals
Improved data quality leads to decline in appeals

TALLAHASSEE — Education Commissioner John L. Winn today announced that Florida school districts are improving at quality data management which is leading to a decline in the number of school grade appeals. Each year, school districts may submit appeals to the Department of Education (DOE) for school grades under Governor Jeb Bush's A+ Plan for Education and Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) designations required by the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. This year, districts submitted appeals on behalf of 33 schools, including 14 school grade appeals, 11 AYP appeals and eight for both school grades and AYP, down from 49 appeals last year and 68 appeals the previous year.

"I applaud the school districts for their improved data management," said Commissioner Winn. "Transparency and understandability are critical to the success of our accountability system. By successfully managing data and minimizing errors, we can better serve the students and families of Florida."

This year 19 appeals were accepted, including six school grade appeals and eight AYP appeals. In addition, five for both school grades and AYP appeals were accepted. The appeals resulted in improving the grade for a number of schools with two schools now earning a "B", seven schools now earning a "C" and two schools earning a "D". Nine appeals, resulted in a change to a school's AYP designation from No or Provisional to Yes. Under NCLB, Florida now has 918 schools meeting the 39 AYP criteria. Some schools that received a change in their school grade also experienced a change in their AYP status.

In order to formally appeal a school grade or AYP designation, districts were required to submit an explanation and supporting data on behalf of the school to the DOE. Formal appeals state the schools' basis for appeal and must be accompanied by appropriate documentation. School districts were required to submit their school grade appeals by July 13, 2006.

2005-06 School Grade Distribution*

*As of August 2, 2006

School Grade Appeals 2005-06

Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) Appeals 2005-06

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