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HCPSS Students Continue to Outperform Peers on SATs; Hispanic Student Reading Performance Up 17 Points

Howard County students continue to out-perform their counterparts in Maryland and across the country, as demonstrated by the SAT scores released today for the Class of 2006. According to the College Board report, Howard County graduates achieved an average score of 539 on the critical reading test, an average score of 559 on the mathematics reasoning test, and an average score of 538 on the writing test.

Howard County's Hispanic students defied local, state and national trends with a 17-point gain in critical reading and a one-point gain in mathematics. Slight declines occurred for most student groups in 2006.

"We can definitely be proud of these results," says Howard County Superintendent Sydney Cousin. "While we need to keep these results in perspective and look at them in relation to other performance indicators, we are certainly encouraged by the performance of our Hispanic students."

Class of 2006	Critical Reading	Math Reasoning	Writing
Howard County	539	559	538
Maryland	503	509	499
National	503	518	497

Howard County students have shown steady increases in both performance and participation on the SAT since 2002. A total of 2,720 county students in the Class of 2006 took the SAT, up 118 students over last year, and 866 students since 2002.

"Although the College Board asserts that the old SAT sections are comparable to the new SAT sections, it is important to consider the impact of these changes when examining trend data," cautions Terry Alban, Howard County's Director of Student Assessment and Program Evaluation.

The SAT Reasoning Test changed significantly for the graduating class of 2006. The verbal test became a critical reading test, which included more reading passages and vocabulary items from the passages rather than the previous analogy format familiar to many students.

The mathematics test also changed with the addition of items related to the content of Algebra 2 courses. The writing test was a completely new test, which included multiple choice items on grammar and construction of an essay.

"Howard County students have always performed well on the SAT. As we look at trend data, we are pleased to see performance hold steady or show some growth, especially when the number of students taking the exam increases," says Alban.

School Board to Meet with Student Leaders

The Board of Education of Howard County will hold a luncheon meeting with student leaders at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2006, at Homewood Center, 10914 Route 108 in Ellicott City (behind the Department of Education).

Board of Education to Meet with PTA Presidents and Citizens Advisory Committee

The Board of Education of Howard County will hold a meeting with PTA Presidents and members of the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) to the Board at 7:30 p.m., on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2006, in the Susquehanna Room at Faulkner Ridge Center, 10598 Marble Faun Court in Columbia.

The meeting is an opportunity for members of the PTA and the CAC to discuss issues and concerns with Board members in an informal setting.

Board of Education Meeting and Presentation of Superintendent’s Proposed FY 2008 Capital Budget and FY 2009 - 2013 Capital Improvement Program

The Howard County Board of Education will hold a regularly scheduled meeting at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2006, in Room B37 at the Applications and Research Laboratory, 10920 Route 108 in Ellicott City. During the evening session, which begins at 7:30 p.m., Superintendent Sydney Cousin will present his Proposed FY 2008 Capital Budget and FY 2009 - 2013 Capital Improvement Program.

Both the afternoon and evening sessions will begin with a “Public Forum” when members of the public may address the Board on topics other than those for which a formal public hearing process exists. Advanced sign up is preferred. To sign up, contact the Executive Assistant to the Board at 410-313-7194.

Individuals who would like to request a sign language interpreter for any meeting of the Board of Education may contact Colleen Rice, Interpreter Scheduler, at 410-313-7046. A two week advanced notice is preferred.

Howard Schools Prepare to Welcome 48,500 Students

School will begin for nearly 48,500 students in Howard County on Monday, Aug. 28, 2006. Approximately 420 school buses will take to the roads Monday morning to deliver students to Howard County’s 71 public schools.

Superintendent Sydney Cousin and other school officials will escort the county’s elected officials on first-day tours of schools across the county. Dr. Cousin and Howard County Executive James Robey will begin their tour of schools at 8 a.m. at Howard High School, 8700 Old Annapolis Road in Ellicott City.

The Howard County Public School System opens its 38th elementary school this year. Dayton Oaks Elementary School, 4691 Ten Oaks Road in Dayton, will open with 560 students, relieving overcrowding at Clarksville and Triadelphia Ridge elementary schools.

Dayton Oaks is one of ten additional Howard elementary schools to open with full-day kindergarten this year, bringing the number of county schools with full-day programs to 28. This is the third year of the county’s four-year phase-in initiative. The nine schools adding the full-day program this year include Atholton, Clarksville, Clemens Crossing, Fulton, Lisbon, Pointers Run, Thunder Hill, Triadelphia Ridge and West Friendship.

“To be out in the schools on opening day is an inspiring and energizing experience. It is the best day of the year for a superintendent,” says Dr. Cousin. “The enthusiasm is contagious.”

The first day also calls attention to the important work of schools, according to the Superintendent. “Seeing hundreds of children arrive at school, you can’t help but think about their individual hopes and dreams and the critical role that educators play in shaping lives. We are entrusted with a huge responsibility.”

Board of Education to Hold Closed Meeting on August 25

The Howard County Board of Education will meet in closed session at 9 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 25, 2006, at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

HCPSS Sees High School Assessment Gains Across Schools

Superintendent Sydney Cousin says he is extremely pleased with the increase in pass rates on the 2006 Maryland High School Assessments (HSA), released today by the Maryland State Department of Education. Cousin points to the 11-point increase in the Algebra pass rate, from 74 to 85 percent, as an indication that instructional approaches being used in Howard’s secondary schools are working. Howard's pass rate for Biology increased by five (5) percentage points to 82 percent and for Government by three (3) percentage points to 85 percent.

Cousin congratulated River Hill High School for having the highest percentage of students passing in the county on any assessment, with a 97 percent pass rate in Algebra. "The students and staff at River Hill can take great pride in this accomplishment," said Cousin. "They have shown us that it can be done."

Equally encouraging, according to the Superintendent, is the increase in the pass rate of the county's African American and Hispanic students on the three assessments. The African American pass rate in Algebra jumped 20 percentage points, from 45 to 65 percent. In Biology, the pass rate for African Americans increased seven (7) percentage points, from 56 to 63 percent; and in Government by three (3) percentage points, from 66 to 69 percent.

The pass rate in Algebra for Hispanic students rose 12 percentage points, from 51 to 63 percent. Hispanic students also posted gains in Biology, up 15 percentage points from 51 to 66 percent; and in Government, up two (2) percentage points from 71 to 73 percent.

School officials also note the significant gains made by other student groups including English Language Learners, students from poverty, and students receiving special education services. For instance, the percent of special education students passing the Algebra assessment nearly doubled, jumping from 27 to 49 percent.

While county schools have much to celebrate, Cousin notes that there is still work to do, specifically with the students in the Class of 2009, who failed on their first attempt to pass the Algebra assessment. Students in the Class of 2009 are the first class required to take and pass the HSAs to graduate. Of the 2,065 students from the Class of 2009 who have taken the test, 459 students did not pass on their first attempt. Eleven (11) of the 907 students from the Class of 2009, who took biology in ninth grade, failed to pass the Biology assessment on first attempt.

"We have worked purposefully, through planning and budgeting, to put additional supports in place to ensure that students have every opportunity to meet this requirement. I am confident that any student who has the desire to succeed will do so, given the quality and commitment of our teachers and the resources we have provided," says Cousin.

Results for the English II High School Assessment, which counts as both an HSA and Maryland School Assessment (MSA) requirement, will not be available until early October.

HCPSS Opens New Automotive Tech Lab; State-of-the-art Lab Offers Future Auto Technicians Real Life Experience

The Howard County Public School System will open a new state-of-the-art Automotive Technology Laboratory this week where students will prepare for careers as automotive service technicians, master mechanics and more. The $2.7 million facility was designed in cooperation with automotive industry representatives to meet current industry standards. The public is invited to tour the new lab, located in the Applications and Research Laboratory (ARL) at 10920 Route 108 in Ellicott City, at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2006.

“Industry professionals tell us that there is a demand for highly qualified auto technicians. This is a field that has become very technical and requires a good deal of training,” according to ARL Principal Mary Day. “That’s why we’re offering this option to students. The jobs are out there.”

Students enrolled in the Automotive Technology Career Academy will learn every aspect of automotive maintenance and repair in a program that is certified by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) and Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). They will receive laboratory and classroom training using the latest testing equipment and specialized tools, gaining hands-on experience in a realistic shop setting.

Articulation agreements have been arranged with the Community College of Baltimore County and Montgomery County Community College that allow students who have completed the academy to transition seamlessly into a post-secondary program. Approximately 100 eleventh and twelfth graders are registered for the program this year.

Fifty-three Howard Elementary, Middle Schools Make AYP; Supports in Place for Three Schools That Missed Target

The Howard County Public School System is already implementing a plan to intensify support for three schools that did not make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), according to Superintendent of Schools Sydney Cousin.

“We began addressing this in June after reviewing our Maryland School Assessment data. We increased staffing for our English for Speakers of Other Languages Program (ESOL) and have already begun providing targeted support to those schools,” says Cousin.

Cousin reported that 53 of Howard County’s 56 elementary and middle schools met AYP this year. Murray Hill Middle School, Oakland Mills Middle School, and Cradlerock School did not make AYP, despite appeals filed with MSDE on behalf of each school. Last year all Howard County elementary and middle schools made AYP.

AYP is a measure that the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) uses to track academic progress and make accountability decisions for schools and school systems. To meet AYP, a school must meet targets, or Annual Measurable Objectives, in all of the identified categories.

Murray Hill Middle School missed meeting the AMO for English Language Learners in reading by two (2) students and therefore did not meet AYP. Oakland Mills Middle School, which missed the target for special education students in reading by one student, also did not meet AYP this year.

Cradlerock School also did not meet AYP, falling short of the AMO for special education students in both reading and mathematics. The school missed the target by five (5) students in reading and by eight (8) students in mathematics.

According to Maryland State Department of Education regulations, the three schools will be on “alert” status for the 2006-2007 school year. If the schools do not make AYP in the same content area next year, then they would move into the state’s improvement status.

Cousin noted that Annual Measurable Objectives are moving targets that will be more difficult for all schools to reach as the bar is raised annually. He pointed to 2006 Maryland School Assessment data, which indicate that Howard schools continue to improve overall performance and have made significant gains in closing the achievement gap.

“While we certainly understand the importance of making AYP, we measure our success one child at a time. Our first goal is to ensure that each child meets rigorous performance standards. That focus has not changed.”

High School AYP designations will not be available until later this year after the High School Assessment scores are released.

Citizens Advisory Committee to Hold New Member Orientation and Meeting

The Citizens Advisory Committee to the Board of Education will hold a new member orientation and a meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2006, in the Susquehanna Room at Faulkner Ridge Center, 10598 Marble Faun Court in Columbia. The new member orientation will begin at 7 p.m. and will be followed by the meeting at 7:30 p.m.

For more information, contact the Public Information Office at 410-313-6682.

Advisory Committee Seeks At-large Members

The Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) to the Board of Education is seeking at-large members for the 2006-2007 school year. The CAC is a group of citizens and representatives from local PTAs that serves in an advisory capacity to the elected school board. The CAC sponsors educational programming for members and provides them with the opportunity to study and have input into curriculum, education policy, redistricting and budget. The committee generally meets at 7:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month in the Board Room at the Department of Education in Ellicott City. At-large members serve a two-year term. For more information, contact the Public Information Office at 410-313-6682.

Board of Education to Meet in Closed Session on August 17

The Howard County Board of Education will meet in closed session at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2006, at the Applications and Research Laboratory, 10920 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

School System Highlights Importance of Prompt Registration or Withdrawal of Students

Because classroom staffing is determined by the number of students enrolled in each school, an accurate count is essential. Parents who are new to Howard County, or have a child who will be starting prekindergarten or kindergarten in August 2006, should contact their child’s school as soon as possible.

The parent or guardian must present the following information at the time of registration:

• the child’s birth certificate
• an authorized record of immunizations
• proof of residency in the form of a lease, a deed, or house contract and a utility bill
• photo ID of the parent/guardian

Parents moving out of the county are asked to withdraw their child from school as soon as possible. This will enable the student’s records to be transferred to the new school in a timely manner.

Information regarding enrollment and registration may found under “Schools” on the school system website at www.hcpss.org.

For more information, call the Public Information Office at 410-313-6682.

HCPSS Opens 38th Elementary School

The Howard County Public School System will celebrate the opening of Dayton Oaks Elementary School, 4691 Ten Oaks Road in Dayton, with a ribbon cutting and open house on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2006 at 2 p.m. School system and county officials will be on hand to participate in the festivities.

Following the ribbon cutting ceremony the school will be open for tours. The Dayton Oaks staff will be on hand to answer questions and show off the new facility. Light refreshments will be served and guests will be entertained by local secondary school band students. The event is open to the public.

Dayton Oaks Elementary is Howard County’s thirty-eighth public elementary school. The school has a capacity of 788 students. The project was completed on time and under budget for a total cost of $25.5 million.

Dayton Oaks Principal Kimberlyn Pratesi is enthusiastic about opening a new school and the opportunity to establish a new school community. “So far it’s been a wonderful experience. We’ve hired a great staff and I’ve already met many parents and students. I’m really looking forward to opening day.”

Dayton Oaks draws its student population from Clarksville and Triadelphia Ridge elementary schools. The school will open on August 28 with an enrollment of approximately 560 students.

Board of Education to Hold Closed Meeting

The Howard County Board of Education will meet in closed session at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2006, at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

Parents May Restrict the Release of Student Information

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act gives local school systems the right to release certain basic biographical information about students in the performance of daily operations and routine tasks. Each student enrolled in the Howard County Public School System will bring home a Scantron form during the first week of school, which lists the categories of information that the school system may release. Parents who wish to restrict the release of one or more of these categories of information related to their child(ren), must complete and sign the Scantron form for each child and return it to the school.

That information, designated as directory information, includes the student’s:

1. Name
2. Date of Birth
3. Place of Birth
4. Major Field of Study
5. Participation in School Activities
6. Weight and/or Height of Athletes
7. Dates of School Attendance
8. Degrees/awards
9. Previous Education Institutions Attended

In accordance with Maryland state law, school systems may release student phone numbers and home addresses to the following:

1. An organization of parents, teachers, students, or former students, or any combination of those groups, of the school (i.e. PTA/PTSA, booster club, class reunion committee, etc.);
2. An organization or force of the military (i.e. military recruiters, etc.);
3. A representative of a community college in the state; or
4. A representative of the Maryland Higher Education Commission.

Contact the HCPSS Public Information Office with questions or for additional information at 410-313-6682.

Board of Education to Hold Regular Meeting, Public Hearings and Pre-Development Work Session on FY 2008 Capital Budget and FY 2009 - 2013 Capital Improvement Program

The Howard County Board of Education will hold a regularly scheduled meeting at 4 p.m. on Thursday, August 17, 2006, in Room B-37 in the Applications and Research Laboratory Building, 10920 Route 108, in Ellicott City.

Both the afternoon and the evening session, which convenes at 7:30 p.m., will begin with a “Public Forum,” when members of the public may address the Board on any topic other than those for which a formal public hearing process exists. Advanced sign up is preferred.

During the evening session, the Board will hold public hearings on the following policies:

Policy 2411 - Research Projects Involving Employees and Students
Policy 2700 - State and Local Testing Protocol and Responsibilities
Policy 11500 - Civility

The Board will also hold a public hearing and pre-development public work session on the FY 2008 Capital Budget and the FY 2009 - 2013 Capital Improvement Program. Individuals who wish to testify at a hearing are asked to limit their presentation to three minutes and to provide 15 written copies of their testimony at the time of the hearing.

To sign up to testify at a hearing or to speak at Public Forum, contact the Executive Assistant to the Board at 410-313-7194.

Individuals who would like to request a sign language interpreter for any meeting of the Board of Education may contact Colleen Rice, Interpreter Scheduler, at 410-313-7046. A two week advanced notice is preferred.

School System Solicits Suggestions for School Name

The School Naming Committee of the Howard County Public School System is seeking suggestions from community members on an appropriate name for the new elementary school located on Montgomery Road in Ellicott City. The school is scheduled to open in August 2007.

Board of Education policy calls for all schools to be named in terms of geographical areas of the county and the duplication of names to be avoided. Names may refer to sections of the county, appropriate street locations, established neighborhoods, or community identifications.

Suggested names, along with a rationale for the particular suggestion, may be submitted in writing by September 4, 2006 to:

Marion Miller
Administrative Director
Howard County Public School System
10910 Route108
Ellicott City, MD 21042