What a Difference I've Made

Because meeting AYP is important, my administration asked us to review our policy on late work. Many students were failing classes, thus dropping our on time graduation rate, because teachers didn't accept late work. I was one of those teachers. So, in the spirit of unity, I decided to accept late work this year. The results are mixed so far. If you can follow the data below, what you will find is that I really haven't helped more students pass; in fact, less are passing. The policiy has also given me the opportunity to grade 45 late assignments the week before the end of the semester. Those were on top of the actually assigned work that also needs to be graded before I can do grades. Hmmm.... And just to make you feel even sorrier for me than you do already, babyTate has woken up the last two nights with coughing spells.

First Look:
1st Semester 2006-2007 Failures: 34% of Seniors.
1st Semester 2005-2006 Failures: 43% of Seniors.

1st Semester 2006-2007 Quarter Two Missing Assignments: 195 of 767 or 25%
1st Semester 2005-2006 Quarter Two Missing Assignments: 179 of 588 or 30%

Upon Closer Inspection
1st Semester 2006-2007 Absentee Rate of 75% or More: 0 of 59 or 0%
1st Semester 2005-2006 Absentee Rate of 75% or More: 5 of 28 or 18%

*Note: In the following data, I've removed the 5 students from the 2005-2006 group.

1st Semester 2006-2007 Failures: 34% of Seniors.
1st Semester 2005-2006 Failures: 30% of Seniors.

1st Semester 2006-2007 Quarter Two Missing Assignments: 195 of 767 or 25%
1st Semester 2005-2006 Quarter Two Missing Assignments: 105 of 483 or 22%