Although spring may be in all of our hearts, we are still blessed with a lot of snow on the ground. Sometimes I do not know if it really is getting warmer outside or not, but I certainly feel as if it is beginning to warm up for a start to spring. During this time of year we are definitely warming up for our federally mandated testing, which will be occurring the first week in April. This testing is not the most fun thing that our students do during the year, but it is one of the most important. Valdez has historically done very well on standardized testing and this year does not look to be any different. What is changing this year is the metric against which our students are measured. This year we are required to have over 88% of our students considered proficient in Language Arts and over 83% of our students proficient in Mathematics. Next school year, 2012-13, we will be required to have 94% proficiency in Language Arts and 91% in Mathematics, and by 2013-14, ALL, of our students will be required to be proficient. To put those numbers in perspective, this last year we had about 91% proficiency in Language Arts and about 83% proficiency in Mathematics. Currently, we are the fourth highest performing district in the State of Alaska! Our students do well, but we must continue to improve, in order to stay ahead of the federal requirements. Our teachers are among the best in Alaska and they are working hard to make sure that our students are taught the necessary information to do well on the state testing. We also understand the testing is not the only reason for schooling and so we continue to work hard to put out well-rounded and successful graduates. On behalf of the entire staff of the Valdez City School District, I thank you for all of your support and for allowing us to educate your children every day!

Thank you,

Jacob Jensen

Valdez City Schools Superintendent

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