Two questions have emerged in the closing days of the campaign.  First, some have asked where the district has tightened their belts in tough economic times?  That’s a fair question when we are all examining our budgets under a shadow of economic uncertainty.  Second, some have asked what we are getting for these resources and how has the district responded in tight financial times to address concerns of performance?

The first question is best answered in the following chart.  Early in 2009, the district did its first round of cuts associated with state funding shortfalls and economic realities.  Their cuts included almost $2 million achieved by tightening or eliminating various programs.

The good news is, despite these cuts, University Place continues to make strong gains on important measures of accomplishment.  Note the following bullet points that demonstrate this:

SAT Scores

• Ten years ago, Curtis High School students scored 13 points below the state average in Critical Reading/Verbal, and  22 points below the state in Math
• By 2009, students taking the SAT at Curtis High School scored 13 points above the state in both Critical Reading and Math.
• From our lowest point in Math (2003), we have improved 35points.  In that same time the state improved 1 point.
• In the last 10 years, UPSD scores in Critical Reading/verbal have increased 16 points.  The state has decreased 1 point.

Advanced Placement Passing Rate

(percentage of tested students who passed)

• In the last five years, our students have gone from 42.6% passing to 68.9% passing on Advanced Placement (AP) exams.

WASL High School Math

• In 1999, the state had a slightly higher percentage of students passing than University Place School District on the new WASL 10th grade Math test.
• By 2009, University Place School District 10th grade students passed the Math WASL at a rate of 9.8% above their state peers.

Overall Academic Performance

• In the end, student performance matters the most.  Amidst what seem to be ever-increasing challenges, University Place School District outperformed the state In Reading, Writing and Math at every tested grade level in 2009.

Major Strategic Initiative:

• RAMP/RNP – $536,000 grant over 3 years
• As part of a three year comprehensive math initiative, UPSD won a competitive grant to increase teacher content knowledge and expand research based effective instructional strategies in mathematics.
• From January through May of the 2008-2009 school year, the district trained 62 4th-7th grade teachers.  This training was narrowly focused on content and instructional strategies.  This work is focused on 30 years research from the Rational Numbers Project (RNP).
• UPSD provided summer training 2009 for 110 of the district’s K-7 teachers focused on similar instructional practices and content.
• This fall, 30 Kindergarten through 3rd grade teachers received training to strengthen content knowledge and expand the effective instructional practices.
• Through the Getting It grant, UPSD has identified and trained 25 Math leaders in grades K-7.  These leaders will continue to support teacher learning and improved instructional practice.

Finally, remember what we have stated earlier in our materials:  that the UP School District has come in under budget and on time in all of its recent construction projects.  A powerful statement of prudent management.