February 18, 2011
Dear Parent/Guardian:

MSAD #19/Lubec Consolidated School (LCS) has been notified by federal education grant overseers in Augusta that all schools in Maine must now include 5th, 8th, 11th grade MEA Science test data in the School Report Card for parents and the community. The enclosed information packet includes the information by grade, when allowed by student numbers, that shows that Lubec Consolidated School has been identified as on Monitor status under the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) 2010-2011 Status of Making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in math and reading. Students in grades 3-8 and grade 11 in 2009-2010 did not meet the State of Maine's upwardly revised targets for improvement on their NECAP and SAT tests even though Grades 3-8 did continue to demonstrate growth over the prior year. Students also did not show improvement in the science tests in grade 5. It should be noted that the State also did not meet its stated targets.

100% of Lubec Consolidated School students enrolled at the time of test administration were tested in math and reading. For a report card showing subject and class data, as well as attendance and graduation rates for 2009-2010 and past years, please visit the state's website and go to RSU 85/MSAD #19. A link to that data is also provided on the school's website at . Printed copies of the report card are available for review by interested members of the public in the Superintendent's office at 32 Blue Devil Hill, Calais, and in the elementary office of Lubec Consolidated School. In October, 2009, students in grades 3-8 were taking the NECAP tests for the first time, and were tested in the beginning of the school year rather than in the spring. Those scores are being treated by the state as a baseline to measure improvement in future years. The NECAP tests for the 2010-2011 school year were completed by students in October, 2010. Those scores will be analyzed and shared with you later this year.

The School Report Card shows student achievement by certain federally required categories, such as gender, race, disabilities, and economically disadvantaged. The class sizes at Lubec Consolidated School are often too small to be statistically evaluated in many of these categories. The school staff collects testing data on all students to determine needs for additional student help, and for professional development. In addition to continuing to work on literacy at all grade levels, the Title IA program is now providing some assistance to students who need additional support in math, and extended day homework help. Teachers will be continuing to receive training on the use of technology in the classroom for all subject areas. New project-based science curriculum materials are being used in the K-8 classrooms.

A general description of the professional qualifications of LCS teachers is included in NCLB Report Card. Our PreK teacher is a Highly Qualified (HQ) and experienced teacher in Early Childhood Education. By the Federal Standards, she has not yet fulfilled the requirements for reaching HQ status in PreK. She is in the process, however, of meeting those requirements. Parents of the children in the class affected have received letters of notification from the school. All other staff members meet the HQ requirements. Parents may request more detailed information on the professional qualifications of their children's teachers at the Superintendent's Office.

Respectfully,

James Underwood
Superintendent, RSU 85/M.S.A.D. #19