Regional’s Off ‘In Need of Improvement’ List

ERMA — Lower Cape May Regional School District is no longer on the state Department of Education’s (DOE) list as a district “in need of improvement.”
Director of Curriculum Christopher Kobik made that announcement at an Aug. 28 board of education meeting. He said an analysis of HSPA (High School Proficiency Assessment) scores, given to eleventh graders, and other information from DOE places Lower Cape May Regional High School and the Richard M. Teitelman School on the “hold status instead of continuing down a negative decline, in fact reversing the trend.”
He said the high school was in “year two hold status,” and the Teitelman School in “year four hold status.”
Under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, a school has to make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) two straight years to earn its way off the list of a school in need of improvement.
AYP results are based on year-to-year comparisons of schools’ scores in the HSPA, GEPA (Grade Eight Proficiency Assessment), NJASK3 and NJASK4 (New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge, Grades Three and Four) tests.
To achieve AYP, students must meet both the proficiency targets and a 95 percent participation rate in math and language arts for each test administered at the school including subgroups such as economically disadvantaged students, students with disabilities or limited English Language skills.
“HSPA scores, in particular, went up in every sub group across the board significantly,” said Kobik.
He said the number of students in study hall is significantly reduced as a result of developing many new programs.
High School Principal Joseph Castellucci updated the board on new course offerings including Law Enforcement, “Project Lead the Way,” a pre-engineering academy, Digital Photography, Sports Journalism, Baker/Pastry Chef, Secretarial Science, Office Supervision, Future Educators, which will be operated in conjunction with the College of New Jersey and offer college credits. Other new courses: History of Puerto Rico and Spanish Literature.
Castellucci said new extra curricular activities include a Radio Club which will have a weekly show of WCFA-Radio 101.5 from Cape May’s Center for Community Arts. Other activities include an ice hockey club and a 4H Club with an emphasis on environmental issues.
He said the school’s sailing club had two activities last week.
Castellucci said 220 of 236 freshmen to the high school attended orientation Aug. 26. Peer leaders conducted the session.
Teitelman School Principal Eugene Sole said 220 of 235 incoming freshman to the middle school attended orientation. New courses in the middle school include pre-engineering and character education for seventh graders.