Dexter Community Schools

We have recently completed the MEAP assessment for students in grades 3-9. Score reports begin to be returned to us in late December or early January. We already know that the reports will indicate reduced proficiency for our students. Here are five things you should know about these changes.

1. Each year, public school students in grades 3-9 take the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) test and 11th graders take the Michigan Merit Exam (MME).

2. The Michigan State Board of Education recently approved new MEAP and MME “cut scores” for Mathematics, Reading, Science and Social Studies. A cut score is the score that separates test takers into various categories, such as advanced, proficient, partially proficient and not proficient.

3. The new cut scores are higher and “raise the bar” for our students. They are intended to be a better measure of student progress toward being career and college ready.

4. While we anticipate an initial decline in the number of students reported as “proficient,” we are confident this change will be temporary due to ongoing school improvement efforts and student support.

5. If your student is reported as “not proficient,” it does not mean that your student isn’t gaining academic skills or is falling behind. It means that on the day of the test, your student was not yet proficient on the material being tested according to a level determined by the State of Michigan. Several other measures are used in our district throughout the year to insure that your student is making academic progress, including nationally normed tests of student achievement.

We maintain high standards for our students and their test scores are consistently among the highest in the state. We anticipate this trend will continue even with the new cut scores. We are analyzing the data from the last five years of MEAP and MME assessments to identify trends, curricular gaps, or other factors that will inform us as we work to meet our vision to “Champion Learning: Develop, Educate, and Inspire!”

If you would like additional information about changes to the MEAP or MME, please contact your building principal or me.

Dexter Community Schools is designating Friday, September 9, as a Dexter Day of Service. In recognition of the heroic efforts of so many in response to the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the plane that crashed as a result of terrorist acts in Shanksville, PA, the staff and students will be encouraged to participate in a unifieddrive to provide for those in need in western Washtenaw County.

The contributions will have different levels of meaning at different grade levels. In the younger grades, we will focus on the goodwill of the contribution, and once students are old enough to understand how this action is in honor of the incredible service and sacrifice of those 9/11 heroes, teachers will have more direct conversation about the connection. The items collected will be donated to Faith in Action, an organization that supports families and individuals needing assistance right here in Dexter.

In addition to this district-wide activity, the Dexter Community Orchestra, in collaboration with the Dexter Community School Orchestras will host a concert in the memory of Don Parrish, founder of both orchestras, with a specific focus on recognition of the heroes of 9/11. This concert will be held in the CPA at Dexter High School at 2 PM.

We are so excited to be nearing the start of an exciting school year! The new website is up and running (with needed links being added each day), the buildings are clean, classroom spaces are being reloaded with desk and dreams, and the major summer construction project, our new bus loop is nearing completion. Gardens at Creekside and Dexter High School are beginning to yield fruits and vegetables to support our continued quest to help our students live healthy lives. Athletes are honing their skills in anticipation of coming competition. The stage is truly set for a fabulous year.

You may heave read recently about the success of our students on state assessments and the straight A report card we received from the state. Our students and staff, with the support of parents, continue to achieve at high levels, but we know we cannot rest on the success of the past. Our combined high expectations and support must be part of our fiber, and we have to rededicate ourselves to paying attention to the social-emotional, academic, and physical growth of each child on a daily basis.

Whether you are a returning family or a new family, a visitor or an old friend, we want you to know that we welcome you to our schools and our community to experience the Dexter Difference.

It’s great to be back!

Mary Marshall, Superintendent