thomas a. edison charter school...302.778.1101 fax 302.778.2232 salome thomas-el, principal/head of...

Thomas A. Edison Charter School 2200 North Locust Street Wilmington, DE 19802 302.778.1101 fax 302.778.2232 Salome Thomas-EL, Principal/Head of School [email protected], www.thomasedison.charter.k12.de.us

Annual Performance Report

• Student Achievement Goals and Targets 1. Achievement data by grade of any other assessment listed on your

Performance Agreement. 2. Mean student performance in reading and math on the 2011-12 DCAS by grade

compared to 2011-12 state averages by grade. - Please See Attached Document Labeled DCAS Fall 2011-2012 Data 3. If you did not achieve to the level of your targets and/or did not meet or exceed the

state average on the DCAS, please explain what your school will do to address student achievement for the coming year.

- Thomas Edison Charter School met the AYP target determined by DDOE. Thomas A. Edison’s achievement data shows an inverse relationship exists between the percentage of students who fall into the well below placement level and the percentage of students who are meeting or exceeding standards. This inverse relationship shows that a greater number of students are moving out of the well below or below standards placement levels (PL1 and PL2) and into the meeting or exceeding standards placement levels (PL3 and PL4). This inverse relationship could not exist unless our students were making academic gains of more than one year of instruction in a typical school year. Moreover, where academic achievement scores typically peak in the late elementary years and then begin to decline through the secondary years, at Thomas A. Edison Charter School, students continue to achieve at high levels through the middle grades, with the greatest percentages of students meeting standards at the end of grade 8. These data demonstrate that Thomas A. Edison Charter School is executing an educational program that advances students’ achievement in reading and math and closes the achievement gap that persistently exists between children across Delaware based on the income levels of their families.

• Positive Student Behavior Goals and Targets

1. Percentage of students who were suspended/expelled in 2011-12. - 17% of our students were suspended and none were expelled 2. Number of incidents for which police reports were mandatory. - None. 3. Describe the plan you have for improving student behavior for 2012-13 if you did not

meet your stated targets. - In an effort to reach our goal of 90% daily positive behavior we will continue to

support our students through our PBS and Leader in Me (Franklin Covey) Initiatives.

• Parent Satisfaction Goals and Targets 1. A sample of the survey you used.

- We participate in the Delaware School Climate Survey which was developed by the Delaware Positive Behavior Support Initiative (a partnership between Delaware Department of Education and the Center for Disabilities Studies at the University of Delaware).


2. The number of parents surveyed, when they were surveyed, your survey method (letter, email, Survey Monkey, etc.), and survey results.

- Thomas A. Edison Charter School sent the paper version of the Delaware School Climate Survey to every parent last spring. The survey had a high rate of return and 90% of responding parents indicated that they were satisfied/very satisfied with the school.

3. Other indicators of parent satisfaction that you used. - 90% of Thomas A. Edison Charter School parents complete and return an Intent to Re-

enroll form to school within 7-days of receiving the form 4. If parent satisfaction results did not meet target, please explain your plan to address parent satisfaction.

• Enrollment Goals and Targets 1. Percentage relative to approved number. - The percentage of enrollment based on the number in our original charter (which is being lowered/changed with the charter renewal) is roughly 88.4%. (729 kids / 825 kids, on charter) 2. Average daily attendance. - Our daily attendance was 95% 3. Plan to improve student enrollment and/or attendance if less than target. - Over the course of the previous two years, the enrollment has fallen below the projected enrollment of 833 students. This reduction in enrollment has been a strategic component of Thomas A. Edison Charter School’s turn-around strategy and enrollment will be reduced to 745 students in our new charter. When Thomas A. Edison Charter School was fully enrolled at 833 students, space in the facilities was not adequate. Specials teachers, such as art and music teachers, needed to travel from room to room. There was not adequate space for special education services, and class sizes were large. With the reduction in enrollment, art teachers now have their own space, class sizes are reduced, and special education services and RTI groups have space to meet. Additionally, students are able to develop relationships with teachers and administrators, connecting in meaningful ways with adults and mentors in the building, and allowing a more cohesive and community-based culture to be fostered in the school.

• Student Retention Goals and Targets 1. Percentage of students who have re-enrolled from 2011-12 to 2012-13. - The percentage of students re-enrolled for the 2012-13 school year is 91%. 2. Number of students who have left your school before the year is over or

before the end of the charter school grades. - The percentage of the students who left during the year is 2%.

3. A summary of reasons why they left. - The primary reason for leaving the school is because of changes in living status or re-location. The primary reason for this would be out of state relocations.

4. Graduation rate, if applicable. 5. Percentage of students who did not pass from one grade to the next. - less than 1% of our students are retained in their grade. 6. Your plan to improve student retention.


- We continue to support the small number of students who are retained in our school through RTI, after-school and summer program support.

• Economic Viability - Please see attached financial information which addresses the following questions.

1. Provide a financial statement setting forth by appropriate categories the school’s revenue and expenditures and assets and liabilities.

2. Provide evidence that the school finished the year (June 30) with sufficient funds to cover teacher contracts?

3. If you did not, explain your plan to increase economic viability. 4. Provide a copy of your 2012-13 Board approved budget.

thomas a. edison charter school...302.778.1101 fax 302.778.2232 salome thomas-el, principal/head of...

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