2007-08 Adopted Plan - Wake County Public School System

GlossaryThe new goal includes grades three through twelve. High academicgrowth is expected among all groups of students. Advanced andstruggling students alike are expected to receive the quality of instructionand resources they deserve in order to make the most of their opportunityfor success.Central to all of WCPSS’s strategies is community partnership andcollaboration. It was noted when the goal was set that it will take a highlevel of community involvement, openness, and support for the WakeCounty Public School System to meet the challenge it has embraced.GPAGrade Point AverageGrade Level ProficiencyPerformance standards, called achievement levels, are one way thatscores on the North Carolina End-of-Course Tests are reported. Studentsthat score at or above level III are considered to be grade level profi cient.Listed below are the four achievement levels:Level I: Student performing at this level do not have suffi cient mastery ofknowledge and skills of the course to be successful at a more advancedlevel in the content area.Level II: Students performing at this level demonstrate inconsistentmastery of knowledge and skills of the course and are minimally preparedto be successful at a more advanced level in the content area.Level III: Students performing at this level consistently demonstratemastery of the course subject matter and skills and are well preparedfor a more advanced level in the content area.Level IV: Students performing at this level consistently perform in asuperior manner clearly beyond that required to be profi cient in thecourse subject matter and skills and are very well prepared for a moreadvanced level in the content area.GrantA contribution by a government or other organization to support aparticular function. Grants may be classifi ed as either operational orcapital, depending upon the grantee.Growth StandardStudents should achieve at least a year of academic gain for every yearof school attendance. The Growth Standard measures the degree towhich this happens. Various formulas and measurements have beenused to calculate growth and, over the course of the ABCs, these havebeen modifi ed. Essentially, however, here’s how the process works: Agrowth prediction is made at the beginning of the school year based onthe prior year’s test scores in reading and mathematics. This predictionis then compared with the actual growth by subtracting predicted fromactual. If the difference is 0 or greater than the growth standard is met.If the difference is a minus number, then the school has failed to achievethe growth target.Teachers, teacher assistants and principals receive bonus payments ifthe school in which they work meet the growth standard. A larger bonusis awarded to those who work in schools that meet the high growthstandard.GTGifted and TalentedHandicapped (Children with Disabilities)Mentally retarded, hearing impaired, deaf, speech/language impaired,visually handicapped, autistic, behaviorally/emotionally disturbed,orthopedically impaired, other health impaired, traumatic brain injury,deaf-blind, multi-handicapped, or specifi c learning disabled students whoneed special education and related services.HeadcountThis term refers to the process of actually counting the number of pupilswho are defi ned as Children with Special Needs or Limited EnglishProfi cient. For federal purposes, children with special needs includeonly the handicapped. For state purposes, children with special needsinclude handicapped and pregnant students.The federal government requires headcounts of children with special396